About
The character "痛" is structured as a phono-semantic compound with the "疒" radical signaling illness and the "甬" component indicating its sound, originally representing physical pain or ailment. While its core meaning of acute suffering has persisted, the character's application broadened to include psychological anguish, as in expressions of sorrow or regret. Additionally, it acquired connotations of intensity and thoroughness, modifying verbs to signify actions done to an extreme degree, such as in words for hearty laughter or deep resentment, demonstrating a semantic evolution from specific physical reference to a more abstract and emphatic function in language.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
我的头很痛。
牙痛让我睡不着。
听到这个消息很心痛。
失去朋友是痛苦的。
手术后的疼痛难忍。
他痛快地答应了。
这个历史教训是沉痛的。
长期头痛需要去医院检查。