fu2 tung3苦痛
Jyutpingfu2 tung3
Yalefú tung
Definition
Physical or mental suffering; pain and misery, often referring to mental torment.
neutralemotion
How it's used
Focuses heavily on deep, lingering emotional anguish rather than physical pain. It carries a heavy, literary weight that makes it sound quite dramatic in casual conversation. People usually reserve this for describing profound life events or existential struggles rather than minor inconveniences.
Examples
He went through a lot of suffering before achieving what he has today.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often use this to describe physical pain, but 痛 or 辛苦 are much more natural for bodily discomfort. Using 苦痛 for a simple headache or a long day at work sounds overly poetic and slightly out of place.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- NegationHow to say no, not, didn't, and don't in Cantonese. The four main negation words and when to use each one.
- Numbers and moneyCounting, talking about money, and asking how much things cost. Includes the two words for two and the everyday words for dollars and cents.
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
