疼痛

• Pinyin: téng tòng
• Hanzi breakdown: 疼 = to ache; 痛 = pain — pain (formal compound)

Meaning

Pain; ache; soreness. The physical sensation of discomfort or suffering.

A more formal term than 疼 alone. Used in medical contexts: 疼痛感 (sensation of pain), 疼痛部位 (painful area), 慢性疼痛 (chronic pain), 剧烈疼痛 (severe pain). Can also describe emotional pain: 心中的疼痛 (pain in one's heart). Common in healthcare discussions and formal writing.

Examples

1. 运动后肌肉的疼痛是正常的。 Muscle soreness after exercise is normal.
2. 这种药可以有效缓解关节疼痛。 This medicine can effectively relieve joint pain.
3. 手术后的疼痛让他难以入睡。 The post-operative pain made it difficult for him to fall asleep.

Usage Guide

Context: medical, health, formal

Tone: clinical

Do Say

• 疼痛程度是几级？(What level is the pain on a scale?)
• 如果疼痛持续，请及时就医。(If the pain persists, please see a doctor promptly.)

Don't Say

• 日常口语中说'疼'比'疼痛'更自然 (In casual speech, 疼 is more natural than 疼痛 for describing everyday pain)

Origin & History

Compound of 疼 (to ache, hurt) + 痛 (pain, to hurt). Both characters relate to pain, forming an emphatic compound.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal