Keywords: tengtong, 疼痛, pain in Chinese, ache in Chinese, how to say I'm in pain in Chinese, hurt in Chinese, soreness in Chinese, Chinese medical terms, describing pain in Mandarin, teng tong meaning
Summary: Learn how to say “pain” in Chinese with the word 疼痛 (téngtòng). This comprehensive guide covers its meaning, character breakdown, and cultural significance, especially in a medical context. Discover how 疼痛 (téngtòng) is the standard term for physical pain or an ache, used when talking to a doctor, and how it differs from more casual words like 疼 (téng) and 痛 (tòng). With 10+ example sentences, you'll be able to describe exactly where and how you hurt in Mandarin Chinese.
Core Meaning
Pinyin (with tone marks): téngtòng
Part of Speech: Noun, Adjective
HSK Level: HSK 4
Concise Definition: A general term for physical pain, ache, or soreness.
In a Nutshell:疼痛 (téngtòng) is the standard, slightly formal word for physical pain in Chinese. Think of it as the term you would use at a doctor's office or when describing a serious discomfort. It covers all kinds of physical suffering, from a dull ache to a sharp, intense pain. While in English you might just say “I'm in pain,” in Chinese, using 疼痛 clearly communicates that you are talking about a physical ailment.
Character Breakdown
疼 (téng): This character means “to ache” or “to be sore.” It is composed of the “sickness” radical 疒 (nè) on the outside, which indicates a connection to disease or physical ailment. The inside part, 冬 (dōng), means “winter” and provides the sound. You can think of it as the “cold” and unpleasant feeling of being sick.
痛 (tòng): This character also means “pain” or “ache.” Like 疼, it uses the “sickness” radical 疒 (nè). The phonetic component is 甬 (yǒng). This character can also refer to deep sorrow or grief.
Combined Meaning: When combined, 疼痛 (téngtòng) forms a more complete and formal compound word for physical pain. It reinforces the meaning, creating a term that is unambiguous and suitable for clear communication about health issues.
Cultural Context and Significance
Describing Pain in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM): In a Chinese medical context, simply saying you have 疼痛 is just the beginning. The doctor will want to know the *quality* of the pain, as this is crucial for diagnosis in TCM. Is it a dull ache (隐痛 yǐntòng), a stabbing pain (刺痛 cìtòng), a “heavy” pain (重痛 zhòngtòng), or a burning pain (灼痛 zhuótòng)? The general term 疼痛 is the gateway to this more specific and diagnostic vocabulary.
Stoicism and Endurance (忍 rěn): Traditionally, there is a cultural value placed on enduring hardship, including physical pain, without excessive complaint. This concept is related to 吃苦 (chī kǔ), which literally means “to eat bitterness.” While this is changing, expressing mild or moderate 疼痛 might sometimes be done with more restraint compared to some Western cultures. Therefore, when someone uses a strong word like 剧痛 (jùtòng) (severe pain), it is taken very seriously.
Comparison to “Pain”: Like the English word “pain,” 疼痛 is a general-purpose term. The primary cultural difference is not in the word itself, but in the diagnostic importance placed on describing the *type* of pain and the cultural tendency towards endurance (忍 rěn).
Practical Usage in Modern China
In a Medical Setting: This is the most common context for 疼痛. You will use it to describe your symptoms to a doctor or pharmacist. They will use it to ask you about your condition.
Example: 医生会问你：“疼痛在哪个部位？” (Yīshēng huì wèn nǐ: “Téngtòng zài nǎge bùwèi?”) - The doctor will ask you: “Where is the pain located?”
Formal vs. Informal Usage:疼痛 is more formal and often used in writing or in serious conversations about health. In daily, casual conversation, it's much more common for people to use just 疼 (téng) or 痛 (tòng).
Casual: 我头疼 (Wǒ tóu téng) - I have a headache.
Formal/Medical: 我有头部的疼痛问题 (Wǒ yǒu tóubù de téngtòng wèntí) - I have a problem with pain in my head.
Describing Intensity: You can modify 疼痛 to describe its severity.
轻微的疼痛 (qīngwēi de téngtòng) - slight/mild pain
剧烈的疼痛 (jùliè de téngtòng) - severe/intense pain
Example Sentences
Example 1:
运动后，我的肌肉感到有些疼痛。
Pinyin: Yùndòng hòu, wǒ de jīròu gǎndào yǒuxiē téngtòng.
English: After exercising, my muscles feel a bit sore.
Analysis: This shows 疼痛 used to describe muscle soreness, a very common scenario. 有些 (yǒuxiē) means “a bit” or “somewhat,” softening the intensity.
Example 2:
请你向医生描述一下你的疼痛。
Pinyin: Qǐng nǐ xiàng yīshēng miáoshù yīxià nǐ de téngtòng.
English: Please describe your pain to the doctor.
Analysis: Here, 疼痛 is used as a noun. This is a typical sentence you might hear from a nurse or family member at a hospital.
English: From one to ten, what is your pain level?
Analysis: This demonstrates the “pain scale” question, a direct translation of the concept used in hospitals worldwide. 等级 (děngjí) means “level” or “grade.”
English: Many elderly people suffer from chronic pain.
Analysis: 慢性 (mànxìng) means “chronic,” and 患有 (huàn yǒu) means “to suffer from (an illness).” This is typical vocabulary for discussing long-term health issues.
Example 10:
受伤的脚踝现在还很疼痛。
Pinyin: Shòushāng de jiǎohuái xiànzài hái hěn téngtòng.
English: The injured ankle is still very painful now.
Analysis: This example shows 疼痛 being used as an adjective, modified by 很 (hěn) to mean “very painful.”
Nuances and Common Mistakes
疼痛 (téngtòng) vs. 疼 (téng) / 痛 (tòng): This is the most important distinction.
疼 (téng) and 痛 (tòng) are verbs/adjectives used constantly in spoken Chinese for specific, simple pains. E.g., 我头疼 (Wǒ tóu téng - I have a headache), 我肚子痛 (Wǒ dùzi tòng - I have a stomachache).
疼痛 (téngtòng) is a more formal noun or adjective. It's less common to say “我头疼痛” in casual speech. You use 疼痛 when you are referring to “the pain” as a medical condition or a general concept.
Physical vs. Emotional Pain:疼痛 is used almost exclusively for physical pain. For emotional pain, heartache, or suffering, the word 痛苦 (tòngkǔ) is much more appropriate.
Incorrect: 分手后，我的心很疼痛。 (Fēnshǒu hòu, wǒ de xīn hěn téngtòng.)
Correct: 分手后，我的心很痛。 (Fēnshǒu hòu, wǒ de xīn hěn tòng.) - Using the single character 痛 is common for “heartache.”
Better: 分手后，我感到很痛苦。 (Fēnshǒu hòu, wǒ gǎndào hěn tòngkǔ.) - 痛苦 perfectly captures the meaning of emotional “suffering.”
Related Terms and Concepts
`疼 (téng)` - A single character for “ache” or “pain,” very common in spoken language (e.g., 头疼 tóuténg).
`痛 (tòng)` - Another single character for “pain,” also common in speech (e.g., 肚子痛 dùzi tòng) and can refer to emotional pain (心痛 xīntòng).
`痛苦 (tòngkǔ)` - Refers to suffering, torment, or anguish, which is often emotional or psychological rather than purely physical.
`难受 (nánshòu)` - A broader term for feeling “unwell,” “uncomfortable,” or “unhappy.” It can be caused by sickness, sadness, or a bad situation.
`不舒服 (bù shūfu)` - “Uncomfortable” or “not feeling well.” The most general way to say you are sick or unwell, without specifying pain.
`酸痛 (suāntòng)` - A specific type of pain: soreness and aching, especially in muscles after a workout.
`刺痛 (cìtòng)` - A sharp, stabbing, or pricking pain. From 刺 (cì), to stab.
`隐痛 (yǐntòng)` - A dull, lingering, or “hidden” ache. From 隐 (yǐn), to hide.
`吃苦 (chī kǔ)` - A cultural concept of “eating bitterness,” meaning to endure hardship and toil.
`忍 (rěn)` - To endure, tolerate, or bear. Often used in the context of bearing pain or hardship.