Learn Chinese Characters

Meaning Index

Chinese characters meaning "sore"

Learn Chinese characters with the meaning "sore", including 酸 (suān), 疼 (téng). Study pinyin, English meanings, traditional forms, common words, and examples.

How to Study This Meaning Group

The English word "sore" covers 2 different Chinese characters — 酸 (suān), 疼 (téng) — and each is its own word with its own feel. These 2 characters do not share a sound — their readings span suān, téng — so confirm the pinyin and tone for each one separately. The example sentences further down show how 酸 and the others are actually used, so you learn them in context rather than as a single translation.

  • 酸 suānsour; sore; ache; acidUseful words: 酸奶, 酸甜苦辣
  • 疼 téng(it) hurts; love fondly; ache; pain; soreUseful words: 疼痛, 心疼

Common words for these 2 "sore" characters

Anchor each of these 2 characters in a word you can picture — start with 酸 (suān) — so "sore" turns into concrete usage instead of a one-to-one translation.

See each character in a sentence

Each character below is shown in a short example sentence with pinyin and an English translation — the quickest way to feel the difference between the 2 ways to say "sore".

suān — sour; sore; ache; acid

这种橘子吃起来有点儿酸。Zhè zhǒng jú zi chī qǐ lái yǒu diǎnr suān.This kind of orange tastes a bit sour.

Common words: 酸奶 (suān nǎi)、酸甜苦辣 (suān tián kǔ là)、心酸 (xīn suān)

téng — (it) hurts; love fondly; ache; pain; sore

摔了一跤,他的膝盖很疼。Shuāi le yì jiāo, tā de xī gài hěn téng.He took a fall, and his knee hurts a lot.

Common words: 疼痛 (téng tòng)、心疼 (xīn téng)、疼爱 (téng ài)

All 2 characters

Open 酸、疼 or any character below to hear it read aloud and see it used in an example sentence.