Translation guide
How to express physical stinging sensations (pain, irritation, smarting) and metaphorical stinging (harsh words, criticism) in Japanese.
Describing a sharp, smarting, or burning pain on the skin, eyes, or wounds, like from a cut, insect bite, or irritant.
The most common and natural way to describe a stinging, smarting, or burning sensation on the skin or mucous membranes. Often used for sunburn, cuts, or spicy food irritation.
日焼けで肌がひりひりする。
My skin stings from the sunburn.
When I put disinfectant on the wound, it stung.
Used when a liquid (like alcohol, salt water, or eye drops) causes a sharp stinging pain on a wound or sensitive area. Implies the liquid penetrates and irritates.
目に汗が入ってしみる。
Sweat got in my eyes and it stings.
傷口に塩水がしみて痛い。
The salt water stings my wound.
Describes a prickling or tingling stinging sensation, like from a needle, rough fabric, or mild skin irritation. Often used for static electricity or wool.
このセーターはちくちくする。
This sweater feels prickly/stingy.
注射のあとがちくちくする。
The injection site stings a little.
Similar to ひりひり but often implies a sharper, more electric or tingling sting, sometimes associated with nerve pain or strong irritants.
唇が荒れてぴりぴりする。
My lips are chapped and sting.
Literally 'a stabbing pain', used for a sharp, piercing sting, often in medical or descriptive contexts. More formal/literary.
刺すような痛みが走った。
A stinging pain shot through me.
Describing the pain caused by an insect sting or contact with a stinging plant like nettles.
The verb for being stung by an insect. Use this when the action of stinging is the focus.
蜂に刺された。
I was stung by a bee.
蚊に刺されてかゆい。
I got bitten by a mosquito and it itches.
A natural phrase to say 'it hurts from being stung'.
刺されて痛いところが腫れてきた。
The stung area is swelling and painful.
Describing words or criticism that feel emotionally painful, sharp, or cutting.
An adjective meaning 'biting, harsh, severe' for criticism or remarks. Very common for 'stinging criticism'.
彼の辛辣な言葉が胸に刺さった。
His stinging words pierced my heart.
辛辣な批判を受けた。
I received stinging criticism.
Means 'severe, scathing, sharp'. Often used for criticism or sarcasm that stings.
痛烈な皮肉を言われた。
I was hit with a stinging sarcasm.
Literally 'pierce the heart', used when words or actions cause emotional pain or a stinging feeling.
その一言が心に刺さった。
That one remark stung me deeply.
An idiom meaning 'painful to hear' (because it's true). Used when someone's words hit a nerve or sting because they are accurate.
Describing the sharp, biting pain from extreme cold or strong wind on exposed skin.
A natural phrase meaning 'the cold wind stings the skin'. Uses the metaphor of piercing.
冬の冷たい風が肌に刺さるように痛い。
The winter wind stings my skin painfully.
Literally 'body-cutting', a set phrase for biting cold or wind that feels like it's cutting/stinging.
身を切るような寒さだ。
It's a stinging, biting cold.
ひりひり is a general smarting/burning sting (sunburn, abrasion). しみる is used when a liquid causes stinging on a wound or sensitive area (alcohol, salt). ちくちく is a prickling sting (needles, wool, static). Choose based on the cause and sensation.
日焼けはひりひりするが、消毒液はしみる。
Sunburn stings (ひりひり), but disinfectant stings (しみる).
刺す (sasu) means 'to stab/pierce' and is used for insect stings or sharp objects, but not for general skin irritation. For sunburn or spicy food, use ひりひりする or しみる instead.
彼の指摘は耳が痛かった。
His point was stinging (because it was true).