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痛经 (tòng jīng) — dysmenorrhea, menstrual cramps

Definition

Medical term for menstrual cramps (dysmenorrhea). Refers specifically to the painful abdominal cramping women experience during menstruation, treated as a health condition rather than just a monthly discomfort.

noun
dysmenorrheamenstrual cramps

Examples

  • 痛经。
    Tā měi gè yuè dōu yīn wèi tòng jīng ér qǐng jià.
    She takes leave every month because of dysmenorrhea.
  • 痛经。
    tòng jīng De zhèng zhuàng bāo kuò fù bù téng tòng hé ě xīn.
    Symptoms of dysmenorrhea include abdominal pain and nausea.
  • 痛经。
    Yī shēng jiàn yì tā yòng rè fū lái huǎn jiě tòng jīng.
    The doctor suggested she use a hot compress to relieve menstrual cramps.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

痛tòngpainful
经jīngmenstruation

痛 gives the pain, and 经 the menstrual period, naming painful menstruation.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
疒疒nèillness
Sound part声符shēngfú
甬
甬yǒng痛tòng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The 疒 part means illness, and 甬 gives the sound; together they form 痛, meaning pain or hurt.

Open 痛 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 經; 经 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
糹Written in full as糸mìsilk; thread
Sound part声符shēngfú
巠
巠jīng經jīng
Same sound today

The traditional form 經 combines 糹 (silk; thread) with 巠, which gives the sound.

Open 经 →
Appears in
Illness & Symptoms

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