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.
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.
Sweat got in my eyes and it stings.
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.
This sweater feels prickly/stingy.
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.
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.
A stinging pain shot through me.
Describing the pain caused by an insect sting or contact with a stinging plant like nettles.
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'.
His stinging words pierced my heart.
I received stinging criticism.
Means 'severe, scathing, sharp'. Often used for criticism or sarcasm that stings.
I was hit with a stinging sarcasm.
Literally 'pierce the heart', used when words or actions cause emotional pain or a stinging feeling.
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.
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.
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.
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.
His point was stinging (because it was true).