痛苦 tòngkǔ pain
pain; suffering; painful
How to remember 痛苦: 痛 ache + 苦 bitter = pain.
Characters
How it is used
- Suffering / anguish - physical or emotional pain - 内心的痛苦 (nèixīn de tòngkǔ) inner anguish; 痛苦的回忆 painful memories.
- Contrast 疼痛 (téngtòng, bodily ache) and 难过 (nánguò, feeling sad): 痛苦 is deeper, more agonizing suffering, and applies strongly to emotional torment.
Example sentences
- 你现在感到痛苦吗？ Nǐ xiànzài gǎndàotòngkǔ ma?Are you in pain now?
- 他儿子的犯罪行为给他带来了很大的痛苦。 Tā érzi de fànzuìxíngwéi gěi tā dàilái le hěndà de tòngkǔ.His son's criminal activities caused him great pain.
- 这五年痛苦的癌症治疗他终于坚持下来了。 Zhè wǔnián tòngkǔ de áizhèng zhìliáo tā zhōngyú jiānchí xiàlái le.Throughout the five years of painful cancer treatments, he managed to keep a stiff upper lip.