Meaning
The kanji 痛 (ツウ, いた.い, いた.む, いた.める) primarily signifies pain, ache, or hurt. It's a fundamental character for describing physical discomfort and can also extend to emotional distress or causing damage. You'll encounter this kanji frequently in daily conversations, medical contexts, and literature, making it essential for N3 level Japanese learners and beyond.
Etymologically, 痛 is a phono-semantic compound. Its left-hand radical, 疒 (やまいだれ - yamaidare), is known as the "sickness radical." This radical clearly indicates that the kanji's meaning relates to illness, disease, or a physical ailment. Characters containing 疒 often refer to medical conditions or states of discomfort, such as 病 (byō - illness) or 疲 (hi - fatigue).
The right-hand side of 痛, 甬 (よう - yō), acts as the phonetic component. It provides the character with its on'yomi sound, ツウ (tsuu), and also hints at its meaning. While 甬 itself can mean "a long channel" or "smooth flow," its ancient form is sometimes associated with a bell or a throbbing sensation. When combined with the sickness radical, this suggests a discomfort or pain that might "flow" or "throb" through the body. This visual combination vividly depicts an affliction or discomfort within the body, directly leading to the core meaning of pain.
The kanji 痛 has 12 strokes and is taught in the 6th grade of Japanese elementary school (小学校6年生).
Readings
On'yomi (音読み) — Chinese-derived readings
The main on'yomi reading for 痛 is ツウ (tsuu). This reading appears in compound words, especially in formal or medical settings.
- 頭痛 (zutsuu) — headache
This is a very common word, combining 頭 (head) with 痛 (pain).
- 腹痛 (fukutsuu) — stomachache
Similar to 頭痛, this compound means stomachache, formed by 腹 (stomach/abdomen) and 痛 (pain).
- 苦痛 (kutsuu) — pain, agony, suffering
Here, 苦 (suffering/bitter) combines with 痛 to express intense pain or deep mental/physical agony, often more severe than a simple ache.
Kun'yomi (訓読み) — Native Japanese readings
The kun'yomi readings of 痛 are highly common in everyday Japanese, particularly in adjective and verb forms. There are three primary kun'yomi readings:
- いた.い (ita.i) — painful, sore
This is the adjective form, describing something that is painful. It's often one of the first adjectives Japanese learners encounter for physical sensations.
痛い (itai) — painful
足が<痛い (ashi ga itai) — My leg hurts / My leg is painful.
いた.む (ita.mu) — to hurt, to ache (intransitive verb); to be damaged, to spoil (food)
This intransitive verb means something itself hurts or is damaged. It's often used when a body part experiences pain (e.g., 膝が痛む - my knee aches) or when food spoils (e.g., 肉が痛む - the meat is spoiling).
傷口が<痛む (kizuguchi ga itamu) — The wound hurts.
心が<痛む (kokoro ga itamu) — One's heart aches; to feel deeply pained (emotionally).
魚が<痛む (sakana ga itamu) — The fish spoils/goes bad.
いた.める (ita.meru) — to hurt (someone/something), to damage (transitive verb); to grieve, to distress
As a transitive verb, this means to cause pain or damage to something or someone. It can also refer to causing emotional distress to oneself or others.
体を<痛める (karada o itameru) — to hurt one's body, to injure oneself.
心を<痛める (kokoro o itameru) — to grieve, to distress oneself (over something).
Common Words & Compounds
The kanji 痛 appears in a wide range of words, reflecting its use for physical and emotional discomfort, as well as critical situations. Learning these compounds will significantly expand your vocabulary.
Health & Body-Related Pains:
腰痛 (yōtsū) — lower back pain
A very common ailment, combining 腰 (waist/lower back) with 痛 (pain).
- 歯痛 (shitsū) — toothache
Pain in the tooth, from 歯 (tooth) and 痛 (pain).
- 関節痛 (kansetsutsū) — joint pain
Pain felt in the joints, combining 関節 (joint) with 痛 (pain).
- 疼痛 (tōtsū) — pain (general medical term)
A more formal or medical term for pain, often used in clinical settings, e.g., 疼痛緩和 (tōtsū kanwa - pain relief).
- 痛風 (tsūfū) — gout
A specific medical condition known for causing severe joint pain.
Emotional & Mental States:
痛感 (tsūkan) — keen realization, strong feeling, to feel keenly
To deeply and strongly feel or realize something, often an unpleasant truth or regret. For example, 自分の不甲斐なさを痛感する (jibun no fugainasa o tsūkan suru - to keenly feel one's own worthlessness).
- 痛恨 (tsūkon) — bitter regret, deep sorrow, grievous
Expresses profound regret or sorrow, often over a past mistake or loss, such as 痛恨の極み (tsūkon no kiwami - the height of bitter regret).
Severity & Criticism:
痛烈 (tsūretsu) — severe, sharp, scathing (criticism)
Describes something very sharp, intense, or scathing, commonly used for criticism or attacks, like 痛烈な批判 (tsūretsu na hihan - scathing criticism).
- 痛罵 (tsūba) — scathing criticism, severe scolding
To severely criticize or scold someone in a harsh manner.
Other Common Uses:
痛手 (itade) — serious wound/blow, heavy damage
Refers to a significant injury or a severe blow, both literally (e.g., 痛手を負う - to suffer a heavy wound) and figuratively (e.g., 経営に痛手 - a heavy blow to management).
- 痛飲 (tsūin) — heavy drinking
Drinking a large amount of alcohol, often to excess, implying an intense act of consumption.
Example Sentences
昨日から<頭痛がして、<少し<痛いです。
Kinō kara zutsuu ga shite, sukoshi itai desu.
I've had a headache since yesterday, and it's a little painful.
<転んで<膝を<痛めてしまいました。
Koronde hiza o itamete shimaimashita.
I fell and hurt my knee.
この<ニュースを<聞いて、<私の<心はとても<痛みました。
Kono nyūsu o kiite, watashi no kokoro wa totemo itamimashita.
Hearing this news, my heart ached greatly.
<長い<時間の<運転で、<腰が<痛むようになりました。
Nagai jikan no unten de, koshi ga itamu yō ni narimashita.
My back started to ache from driving for a long time.
その<失敗から<学び、<自分の<力不足を<痛感しました。
Sono shippai kara manabi, jibun no chikarabusoku o tsūkan shimashita.
Learning from that failure, I keenly realized my own inadequacy.
<歯医者さんで<痛くない<治療をしてもらうことができました。
Haisha-san de itakunai chiryō o shite morau koto ga dekimashita.
I was able to receive a painless treatment at the dentist.
<彼の<政治に<対する<痛烈な<批判は、<皆の<心を<動かした。
Kare no seiji ni taisuru tsūretsu na hihan wa, mina no kokoro o ugokashita.
His scathing criticism of politics moved everyone's hearts.
<事故で<受けた<痛手は<大きかったが、<彼は<立ち<直った。
Jiko de uketa itade wa ōkikatta ga, kare wa tachinaotta.
The heavy blow he suffered in the accident was significant, but he recovered.
Memory Tip
To remember 痛, focus on its two parts. The left side, 疒 (やまいだれ), is the "sickness radical." This radical appears in many kanji related to illness or discomfort, so it immediately hints at a health-related meaning. The right side, 甬, can be thought of as representing a "throbbing" sensation or something that "flows." Picture a sickness (疒) with a throbbing pain (甬) flowing through the body, which directly leads to the idea of "pain" or "hurt." This combination makes the kanji's meaning clear and memorable.