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痛心 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
痛心tòngxīngrievedHSK 7, unknown, 16 strokes, rank #17684, Very Hard
痛心tòngxīnpainedHSK 7, unknown, 16 strokes, rank #17684, Very Hard
tòngxīn(tong4xin1)tong xin T4
  1. 1grieved
  2. 2pained
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March 24, 2026

痛心tòngxīn(tong4xin1)

痛心 (tòng xīn) means to feel deep sorrow or grief. It is commonly used to express emotional pain in response to unfortunate events, such as loss or betrayal, and emphasizes a profound level of distress that affects the heart.

Strokes16Frequency#17684DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, expressing deep sorrow is often tied to the concept of family and community ties. People may use 痛心 when discussing loss in family or when reflecting on tragic national events, highlighting the emotional weight such situations carry.

Memory tip

Imagine your heart (心) is in pain (痛) as if it has just received heartbreaking news. Visualize a heart being pierced by an arrow, representing the sorrow that ‘痛心’ encapsulates, helping you remember both the pronunciation and meaning.

Meanings of 痛心

tòngxīn(tong4xin1)
1grieved
2pained
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About 痛心

痛心Simplified
16Strokes
—Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

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Podcast: 痛心

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AI study notes for 痛心

Quick Contrast

伤心 (shāngxīn) vs 悲伤 (bēishāng) — use 痛心 when expressing a deeper, more intense sorrow that feels like it affects the heart, while 伤心 is more general sadness and 悲伤 often conveys a sense of mourning.

Usage Notes

Be mindful of the context when using 痛心; it is often used in more formal or serious situations, such as discussing tragic events. A common mistake is to use it lightly, as it conveys deep sorrow. Avoid using it in casual conversation; instead, use simpler expressions.

HSK Study Tips

Although 痛心 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary list, it is useful for learners at an intermediate level (HSK 3-4) to express emotional states. Students should focus on the emotional depth of this word and practice using it in appropriate contexts.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 痛心 with 伤心 (shāng xīn), which is less intense. For example, saying '我很痛心这件事' (Wǒ hěn tòng xīn zhè jiàn shì) might be too strong for a minor issue; instead, use 伤心 in such cases.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 痛心

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Component characters

痛tòngache
HSK 412 strokes疒
View full entry
心xīnheart
HSK 44 strokes心
View full entry

How to say grieved in Chinese

“grieved” in Chinese is痛心tòngxīn

痛心 (tòng xīn) means to feel deep sorrow or grief. It is commonly used to express emotional pain in response to unfortunate events, such as loss or betrayal, and emphasizes a profound level of distress that affects the heart.

When to use 痛心

Be mindful of the context when using 痛心; it is often used in more formal or serious situations, such as discussing tragic events. A common mistake is to use it lightly, as it conveys deep sorrow. Avoid using it in casual conversation; instead, use simpler expressions.

痛心 or something close to it

伤心 (shāngxīn) vs 悲伤 (bēishāng) — use 痛心 when expressing a deeper, more intense sorrow that feels like it affects the heart, while 伤心 is more general sadness and 悲伤 often conveys a sense of mourning.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 痛心 with 伤心 (shāng xīn), which is less intense. For example, saying '我很痛心这件事' (Wǒ hěn tòng xīn zhè jiàn shì) might be too strong for a minor issue; instead, use 伤心 in such cases.

Write 痛心

痛
心

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Frequently asked questions about 痛心

No, 痛心 is meant for expressing significant emotional pain, not for minor inconveniences.

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