Definition
痛 (tòng) is stronger and more intense than 疼 (téng) — 疼 is the everyday word for physical pain (e.g. headache), while 痛 can be physical or emotional (heartache). As an adverb before verbs like 哭 or 打, 痛 means 'deeply, severely', a use 疼 does not share. 痛苦 (tòngkǔ) is the adjective for prolonged suffering, not momentary pain.
adjective
painfulsoreaching (physical or emotional)
adverb
deeplyseverelythoroughly (before certain verbs like 打, 哭, 恨)
Easily confused
- 桶tǒnglook-alikebucket; trash can; barrel
- 同tóngsound-alike(adjective) same, similar
- 捅tǒnglook-aliketo poke, to stab, to prod
- 筒tǒngsound-aliketube, cylinder
- 涌yǒnglook-aliketo surge, to gush, to well up
- 铜tóngsound-alikecopper
- 通tōnglook-alike(verb) to go through; to be open or connected; to have a thorough knowledge of (a subject)
Examples
- 痛，。Wǒ de jiǎo hěn tòng, zǒu bú dòng le.My foot hurts a lot; I can't walk.
- ，痛。Tīng dào zhège xiāoxi, tā xīn lǐ hěn tòng.Hearing this news, his heart ached.
- ，。Tā tòng kū le yì chǎng, yǎnjīng dōu hóng le.He cried bitterly, and his eyes turned red.
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