Meaning and Usage
The adjective 痛い (いたい) primarily describes physical pain or discomfort. It is commonly used to express that a part of the body hurts, such as 頭が痛い (my head hurts) or 膝が痛い (my knee hurts).
Figurative Use
痛い can also be used figuratively in expressions like 痛い目にあう, meaning to suffer a painful or unpleasant experience, often as a consequence of one's actions.
Common Collocations
- 頭が痛い: headache or mental stress
- 膝が痛い: knee pain
- 痛い目にあう: to suffer consequences or learn a hard lesson
Register and Politeness
痛い is a neutral adjective and can be used in both casual and polite contexts. Adding です makes it polite (痛いです).
Learner Tips
Be careful not to confuse 痛い with 痒い (かゆい, itchy). Also, when describing pain, specify the body part with が to indicate what hurts (e.g., 腰が痛い).