ngaa4 tung3牙痛

Jyutpingngaa4 tung3

Yalengàh tung

動詞Uncommon

Definition

To have a toothache.

colloquialhealthbody

How it's used

Beyond the literal physical pain, this term is frequently used in the idiom 牙痛噉聲 to describe someone who is complaining or expressing extreme reluctance about doing a task. It captures the specific, pained, and drawn-out tone of someone who is suffering through something they really do not want to do. When referring to the physical condition, it is common to say 牙痛到瞓唔着 to emphasize the severity of the pain.

Examples

ngo5我gan6呢paai4排seng4成jat6日ngaa4牙tung3痛，sik6食m4唔dou3到je5嘢。

I have been having a toothache lately and cannot eat anything.

nei5你hai6係mai6咪ngaa4牙tung3痛aa4呀？zou6做mat1乜seng4成maan5晚dou1都mou5冇ceot1出seng1聲？

Do you have a toothache? Why have you been silent all night?

Common phrases

ngaa4牙tung3痛gam2噉seng1聲

to sound like a toothache (to complain or be reluctant)

ngaa4牙tung3痛dou3到sei2死

to have an excruciating toothache

Common mistake

Do not confuse this with 牙痛藥, which refers to the medicine for a toothache rather than the condition itself. Also, ensure you do not use it as a noun to describe the tooth itself; it is strictly a verb phrase describing the state of having pain.