I want to know if the difference between those words related with "pain".
2 Answers
疼痛 means physical pain, but it is very formal, and usually used in medical speak. This is also similar to 痛楚, which is also too formal for casual conversation.
For example: 肌肉疼痛是感冒病徵。 ~Muscle pain/aches is a flu symptom.
The words 疼 and 痛 are usually used in solidarity, in Mandarin and Cantonese respectively.
For example: (In Mandarin) 我肚子疼。(In Cantonese) 我肚痛。 ~I have a stomachache.
On the contrary, 痛苦 means pain in general. It could still be physical, but usually mental or even metaphorical.
For example: 生產的過程很痛苦。 ~Giving birth is painful.
Bad example: 他看來很痛苦。is as vague as "It looks like he is in pain". It could be physical or mental, and depends on the context.
Another example: 學習中文很痛苦。 ~Learning Chinese is painful. (Based on true experience)
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I understand, your explanation is very interesting! So, is there a word to say exclusively "pain" but not physical, only kind of mental pain? If the character 痛 is used for it, it would be better for me. Commented Oct 7, 2020 at 18:16
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I would argue that 痛苦 works most of the time. But not 痛. 痛 by itself is exclusively physical pain. Commented Oct 7, 2020 at 19:34
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@user26544 I think both could go physical pain, but to be specific, in a hospital，
“疼”：急性的、时间短的、表面的；“痛”是慢性的，长久的，内在的。– ShawCommented Oct 9, 2020 at 1:19
疼痛 generally refers to physical pain. 痛苦 is a general term, it could be physical, mental, metaphorical.
player3236's example "學習中文很痛苦" is the best.
