疼 (téng) - Pain, ache & to hurt physically or emotionally

疼Tone 2

téng ｜ 10 strokes ｜ radical:

檀婷

疼 · téng

Pain, ache;

to hurt physically or emotionally;

to love dearly, to dote on.

Pain, acheto hurt physically or emotionallyto love dearly, to dote on.

Usage highlights

HeadacheStomach acheLove dearlyPain and itchingFeel painSore and painful

Synonyms

  • 痛— Pain, ache (often more intense or sharp)
  • 爱— Love (for the 'to love dearly' sense)

Antonyms

  • 愈— Heal, recover
  • 乐— Happy, joyful

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • I have a headache (头疼).
  • My stomach hurts (肚子疼).
  • She loves her grandson dearly (她疼孙子).
  • The wound still aches (伤口还疼).

Collocations

  • Headache(头疼)
  • Stomach ache(肚子疼)
  • Love dearly(疼爱)
  • Pain and itching(疼痒)
  • Feel pain(感到疼)
  • Sore and painful(酸疼)

Idioms

  • Know pain and know itching — to understand each other's feelings(知疼着热)
  • Feel the pain, feel the itch — to care deeply for someone(知疼着痒)
  • Not hurt, not itch — indifferent, unaffected(不疼不痒)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • The character 疼 combines the 'sickness' radical (疒) with the phonetic component 冬 (dōng), suggesting a 'winter-like' or persistent discomfort.
  • 疼 can express both physical pain and deep affection, reflecting a cultural link between vulnerability and care.
  • In naming, it is rarely used due to its primary association with pain, though the 'to love dearly' sense is positive.

FAQ