Definitions

téng (verb) to hurt; to ache; painful
téng (verb) to love dearly; to cherish

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound.

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character '疼' is structured as a phono-semantic compound, combining the radical '疒' which denotes illness or physical discomfort, with the component '冬' that serves as a phonetic indicator while also historically implying associations with coldness, a sensation often linked to ache. Its original meaning centered on physical pain, such as soreness or injury, derived from this conceptual foundation of bodily ailment. Over time, the semantic range of '疼' extended beyond mere physical sensation to encompass emotional distress, and notably, it developed a colloquial usage meaning to cherish or love someone deeply, often reflecting a sense of affectionate concern and tenderness. This dual application in both physical and emotional realms illustrates how the character's meaning broadened while retaining its core connection to palpable sensitivity.

Example Sentences Hide

我的头很

Wǒ de tóu hěn téng.

My head hurts a lot.

他肚子得厉害。

Tā dùzi téng de lìhai.

His stomach hurts badly.

妈妈心孩子。

Māma xīnténg háizi.

Mother loves the child dearly.

我的腿受伤了,非常

Wǒ de tuǐ shòushāng le, fēicháng téng.

My leg is injured, and it hurts a lot.

吃了太多冰淇淋,我牙

Chī le tài duō bīngqílín, wǒ yá téng.

After eating too much ice cream, my tooth hurts.

看到她哭,我心里

Kàn dào tā kū, wǒ xīnlǐ téng.

Seeing her cry, my heart aches.

如果你不小心,就会

Rúguǒ nǐ bù xiǎoxīn, jiù huì téng.

If you are not careful, you will get hurt.

尽管伤口很,他仍然坚持工作。

Jǐnguǎn shāngkǒu hěn téng, tā réngrán jiānchí gōngzuò.

Even though the wound is painful, he still persists in working.