Japanese word

痛い

Pronunciation

Romajiitai

Meaning

  • i-adjectivesore, hurt

Example

のどが痛いです。no do ga ita i de su

My throat is sore.

Illustration for 痛い (sore)

More examples

おなかが痛いです。o na ka ga ita i de su

My stomach hurts.

冷たい水を飲むと、歯が痛いです。tsume ta i mizu o no mu to ha ga ita i de su

My tooth hurts when I drink cold water.

Core concept

Describes a bodily condition in which an affected part produces an unpleasant physical sensation.

Common phrases

  • 頭が痛いatama ga ita i

    my head hurts

  • おなかが痛いo na ka ga ita i

    my stomach hurts

  • 歯が痛いha ga ita i

    my tooth hurts

Definition in Japanese

身体の一部などに不快な痛みを感じるさま。shin tai no ichi bu na do ni fu kai na ita mi o kan ji ru sa ma

Word origin

The native Japanese adjective 痛い (itai) comes from the older adjective 痛し (itashi, "painful"), whose modern form retains the sense of physical discomfort.

Usage tips

  • English speakers often use "sore" for a body part, while this Japanese adjective can describe many kinds of physical pain in daily conversation.

Other meanings

  • painfuli-adjective

Related words

  • 痛みitamipainnoun
  • 痛がるitagarushow signs of painverb

Word lists with this word