Translation guide
The English word "painful" covers physical pain, emotional distress, and figurative difficulty. Japanese uses different words depending on the type of pain and context.
Describing a part of the body that hurts or a sensation that causes physical pain.
The most common and general word for physical pain. Used for injuries, headaches, stomachaches, etc.
Implies a more intense, suffocating, or agonizing pain, often internal or systemic, like difficulty breathing or severe illness.
My chest feels tight/painful.
Describes a throbbing, dull, persistent pain, like an old injury or toothache.
My old wound aches.
Describing a situation, memory, or remark that causes emotional suffering, sadness, or heartache.
Covers emotional pain, hardship, and difficult situations. Very common for heartbreak, tough times, or painful memories.
Breakups are painful.
It was painful to hear that story.
Also used for emotional anguish, guilt, or a painful dilemma. Stronger than 辛い, often implies inner torment.
A poignant, wistful pain, often associated with longing, nostalgia, or unrequited love. More poetic.
Describes something pitiful or tragic that evokes sympathy; often used for news about accidents or disasters.
Describing a situation or remark that is so embarrassing it causes discomfort, like second-hand embarrassment.
Often used for cringeworthy or pathetic scenes, like someone trying too hard and failing. Can also mean 'pitiful'.
His dancing was painful to watch.
Literally 'can't bear to watch', used when something is painfully embarrassing or awkward.
That speech was painful to watch.
Describing a process, progress, or task that is extremely slow, tedious, or difficult, causing frustration.
A set phrase meaning 'making painfully slow progress'. Often used in formal or written contexts.
Negotiations are making painfully slow progress.
A more casual way to say something is not progressing easily, implying it's painfully slow.
Work is progressing painfully slowly and it's tough.
Describing something that is an unwelcome or harsh reality, often used with words like 'reminder', 'truth', 'lesson'.
痛い is primarily physical pain, but can be metaphorical (痛い真実). 辛い is emotional pain or hardship. 苦しい is intense physical or mental anguish, often with a sense of suffocation or dilemma.
English 'painful' is very broad. Using 痛い for emotional pain or slow progress can sound unnatural. Choose the word that matches the type of pain.
決断が苦しい。
The decision is painful/agonizing.
切ない恋心。
A painful/heart-wrenching love.
It was a painful/tragic accident.
What you say is a painful reminder (hits close to home).