HSK 4, a, 12 strokes, radical 疒, rank #1311, Medium
tòng(tong4)tong T4
1ache
2pain
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March 24, 2026
痛tòng(tong4)
The character 痛 (tòng) refers to physical pain or discomfort, as well as emotional sorrow or distress. It is commonly used in medical contexts to describe various types of aches or pains, as well as in expressions of deep sorrow or regret.
Strokes12Radical疒Frequency#1311DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese medicine, the concept of pain is often linked to the balance of Yin and Yang, with treatment focusing on restoring harmony in the body. This cultural understanding can deepen the appreciation of the term 痛 in medical discussions.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person holding their stomach in pain, which visually resembles the character 痛. The left side (疒) represents illness, while the right side (痛) can be thought of as a person doubled over in anguish. The sound 'tòng' can be remembered by associating it with 'thong', which sounds similar and can evoke a painful pinch.
Meanings of 痛
tòng(tong4)
1ache
2pain
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 痛
痛Simplified
12Strokes
疒Radical
副形词xíngróngcíadj-adverb (adj.-adv.)Part of Speech
#1311Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L4ElementaryTOCFLL3HSKKL2CEFRA2
Podcast: 痛
Podcast: 痛
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AI Study Notes for 痛
Quick Contrast
痛 (tòng) vs 疼 (téng) — use 痛 for more intense or severe pain, while 疼 is often used for milder discomfort.
Usage Notes
Be cautious with the tones when using 痛, as it is pronounced with a fourth tone (tòng). Common collocations include '头痛' (tóutòng - headache) and '心痛' (xīntòng - heartache). It's generally informal, used in both spoken and written contexts.
HSK Study Tips
Although 痛 is not specifically listed in HSK levels, it is a useful term for learners at an intermediate level who are expanding their vocabulary about health and emotions. Students should practice using it in sentences related to feelings and pain.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 痛 (tòng) with 痒 (yǎng), which means 'itchy'. For example, saying '我痛' (wǒ tòng - I am painful) instead of '我痛苦' (wǒ tòngkǔ - I am suffering) can lead to misunderstanding. Ensure you use the correct context when expressing pain or discomfort.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 痛
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How Well Do You Know 痛?
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Learning Lab
Knowing 痛 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
痛 = 疒 + 甬. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 痛
IDS Structure⿸疒甬
痛Full Character
=
疒ne4
enclosing
甬tong3
inner
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 痛?
How to say ache in Chinese
“ache” in Chinese is痛tòng
The character 痛 (tòng) refers to physical pain or discomfort, as well as emotional sorrow or distress. It is commonly used in medical contexts to describe various types of aches or pains, as well as in expressions of deep sorrow or regret.
When to use 痛
Be cautious with the tones when using 痛, as it is pronounced with a fourth tone (tòng). Common collocations include '头痛' (tóutòng - headache) and '心痛' (xīntòng - heartache). It's generally informal, used in both spoken and written contexts.
痛 or something close to it
痛 (tòng) vs 疼 (téng) — use 痛 for more intense or severe pain, while 疼 is often used for milder discomfort.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 痛 (tòng) with 痒 (yǎng), which means 'itchy'. For example, saying '我痛' (wǒ tòng - I am painful) instead of '我痛苦' (wǒ tòngkǔ - I am suffering) can lead to misunderstanding. Ensure you use the correct context when expressing pain or discomfort.
Write 痛
痛
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Practice writing 痛 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 痛
痛 functions as an adverb — it modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb. In Chinese, adverbs sit BEFORE the verb they modify (我也去, 他常常迟到), never after it. It carries 6 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
New ways to treat arthritis may provide an alternative to painkillers.
10
他突然感到腹部一阵剧烈疼痛。
tā tū rán gǎn dào fù bù yī zhèn jù liè téng tòng。
He was struck by a stabbing pain in his midriff.
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Word Family of 痛
Words Containing This Character20
痛苦tòngkǔpain
痛tòngache
疼痛téngtòngpain
头痛to have a headache頭痛
痛快tòngkuàidelighted
伤痛sorrow傷痛
悲痛bēitònggrieved
痛恨to detest
心痛heartache
止痛药painkiller止痛藥
腹痛bellyache
痛楚pain
痛心tòngxīngrieved
止痛to relieve pain
痛哭to cry bitterly
镇痛analgesic鎮痛
酸痛to ache
病痛slight illness
胃痛stomachache
惨痛cǎntòngbitter慘痛
Exercise 1 of 4
Words with 痛
What does 痛苦 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 痛
Yes, 痛 (tòng) can be used to express emotional pain or sorrow. For instance, you might say '我痛苦的心情' (Wǒ tòngkǔ de xīnqíng), which translates to 'my sorrowful feelings.' It highlights the emotional depth associated with the word.
Some synonyms for 痛 (tòng) include 疼 (téng), which also means 'pain,' and 灼痛 (zhuó tòng), meaning 'burning pain.' Understanding these synonyms can help you express different types of pain more accurately in Chinese.
You can use 痛 (tòng) in sentences to describe pain. For example, '我头痛' (Wǒ tóu tòng) means 'I have a headache.' It can also be used to express emotional pain, such as '我很痛苦' (Wǒ hěn tòngkǔ), meaning 'I am in a lot of pain.'
痛 (tòng) means 'pain' or 'ache' in Chinese. It can refer to physical discomfort as well as emotional sorrow. The character is often used in medical contexts or to express feelings of distress.
You can say '我头痛' (wǒ tóutòng) which means 'I have a headache'.
No, 痛 can also refer to emotional pain, such as in '我心痛' (wǒ xīntòng - my heart aches).
Common phrases include '痛苦' (tòngkǔ - suffering) and '痛快' (tòngkuài - happy or refreshing, often used in a different context).
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