How Koreans Describe Pain

Korean has many different ways to express pain beyond simply saying “아프다” (It hurts).
Each word adds detail about the type, intensity, and sensation of the pain.
This guide is divided into categories to help you learn and remember the expressions more easily.

1. Stiffness and Heaviness

These verbs describe the feeling of tightness, fatigue, or soreness often experienced in muscles or the body.

1.1 결리다 (gyeollida)

To feel stiffness in the neck, shoulders, or back.
✅ Example:

어깨가 결려요. – My shoulder feels stiff.

1.2 뭉치다 (mungchida)

To feel tight or knotted muscles.
✅ Example:

종아리가 뭉쳤어요. – My calves feel tight and tense.

1.3 무겁다 (mugeopda)

To feel physically heavy or weighed down.
✅ Example:

몸이 너무 무거워요. – My body feels heavy.

1.4 묵직하다 (mukjikada)

To feel dull, deep heaviness.
✅ Example:

허리가 묵직하게 아파요. – My lower back has a deep, heavy ache.

1.5 뻐근하다 (ppeogeunhada)

To feel sore or achy.
✅ Example:

온몸이 뻐근해요. – My whole body feels sore.

2. Burning, Smarting, or Stinging

These expressions describe pain that feels hot, sharp, or irritated—like burning, cuts, or sunburns.

2.1 따갑다 (ttagapda)

To feel a burning or smarting sensation on the skin.
✅ Example:

햇볕에 오래 있었더니 피부가 따가워요. – My skin is burning after being under the sun for too long.

2.2 따끔하다 (ttakkeumhada)

To feel a short, sharp sting.
✅ Example:

주사 맞을 때 따끔했어요. – It stung when I got the injection.

2.3 화끈거리다 (hwakkeungeorida)

To feel burning or flushed.
✅ Example:

화상을 입은 피부가 화끈거려요. – My skin is burning from the burn.

2.4 얼얼하다 (eoreolhada)

To feel numb and burning at the same time.
✅ Example:

매운 걸 먹었더니 입이 얼얼해요. – My mouth is numb and burning from the spice.

2.5 아리다 (arida)

To feel a lingering stinging pain.
✅ Example:

입안이 아려요. – The inside of my mouth stings.

3. Tingling or Numbness

These expressions describe sensations like numbness, pins and needles, or dull inner pain.

3.1 저리다 (jeorida)

To feel numb or tingling, as if the area has fallen asleep.
✅ Example:

다리가 저려서 움직이기 힘들어요. – My leg is numb and hard to move.

3.2 저릿하다 (jeorit-hada)

To feel a sharp, sudden tingling sensation.
✅ Example:

팔꿈치가 저릿했어요. – I felt a tingling shock in my elbow.

4. Throbbing and Pounding

These words describe rhythmic, pulsing pain that often repeats and intensifies.

4.1 욱신욱신하다 (uksin-uksin-hada)

To throb repeatedly, especially in joints or injuries.
✅ Example:

발목이 욱신욱신 아파요. – My ankle is throbbing with pain.

4.2 지끈지끈하다 (jikkeun-jikkeun-hada)

To feel strong, pulsing pain—especially in the head.
✅ Example:

머리가 지끈지끈 아파요. – I have a pounding headache.

5. Other Sensations

These verbs describe other common types of pain, including itching, tightness, and pulling.

5.1 가렵다 (garyeopda)

To itch.
✅ Example:

팔이 가려워요. – My arm is itchy.

5.2 당기다 / 땡기다 (dang-gida / ddaeng-gida)

To feel pulled or stretched tight.
✅ Example:

허리가 땡겨요. – My back feels pulled.

5.3 조이다 (jo-ida)

To feel squeezed or tight, like something is pressing inward.
✅ Example:

가슴이 갑자기 조여요. – My chest suddenly feels tight.

6. Simile Expressions for Pain (-듯이)

These expressions describe pain through vivid similes, using “-듯” or “-듯이,” which mean “as if” or “like.”
They intensify the emotional and physical feeling of pain by comparing it to cutting, squeezing, twisting, and more.

6.1 깨질 듯 (kkaejil deut)

As if it’s going to shatter—used for strong headaches or head pressure.
✅ Example:

머리가 깨질 듯이 아파요. – My head hurts as if it’s going to break apart.

6.2 꼬이는 듯 (kkoineun deut)

As if it’s twisted—used for stomach or internal twisting pain.
✅ Example:

배가 꼬이는 듯 아파요. – My stomach hurts like it’s twisted up inside.

6.3 꼬집듯 (kkojipdeut)

As if being pinched.
✅ Example:

팔이 꼬집듯이 아파요. – My arm hurts as if it’s being pinched.

6.4 꽉 무는 듯 / 꽉 쥐는 듯 (kkwak muneun deut / kkwak jwineun deut)

As if being clenched or squeezed tightly.
✅ Example:

턱이 꽉 무는 듯 아파요. – My jaw hurts like it’s being clenched.
속이 꽉 쥐는 듯 아파요. – My insides feel like they’re being squeezed.

6.5 끊어질 듯 (kkeun-eojil deut)

As if it’s about to snap—used for muscle or tendon pain.
✅ Example:

종아리가 끊어질 듯 당겨요. – My calf feels like it’s about to snap.

6.6 도려내듯 (dor-yeonaedeut)

As if it’s being scraped or cut out—very intense, cutting pain.
✅ Example:

속이 도려내듯이 아파요. – It feels like my insides are being scraped away.

6.7 뒤트는 듯 (dwiteuneun deut)

As if it’s being twisted forcefully.
✅ Example:

장이 뒤트는 듯한 느낌이에요. – It feels like my intestines are being twisted.

6.8 당기듯 (dang-gideut)

As if it’s being pulled or stretched.
✅ Example:

허리가 당기듯이 아파요. – My lower back hurts like it’s being pulled.

6.9 베듯 (bedeut)

As if it’s being cut by a blade—sharp pain.
✅ Example:

가슴이 베듯이 아파요. – My chest feels like it’s being cut with a knife.

6.10 뼈가 저리는 듯 (ppyeoga jeorineun deut)

As if the bone itself is aching—deep, inner pain.
✅ Example:

무릎이 뼈가 저리는 듯 아파요. – My knee hurts as if the bone itself is aching.

6.11 쑤시듯 (ssusideut)

As if it’s being stabbed repeatedly—often internal poking pain.
✅ Example:

속이 쑤시듯이 아파요. – It feels like something’s stabbing inside me.

6.12 찔리는 듯 / 찌르는 듯 (jjillineun deut / jjireuneun deut)

As if being pricked or pierced—sharp, stabbing pain.
✅ Example 1:

가슴이 찔리는 듯 아파요. – My chest hurts like I’m being pricked.
옆구리를 찌르는 듯한 통증이 있어요. – I feel a piercing pain in my side.

6.13 타는 듯 (taneun deut)

As if it’s burning—used for fiery pain.
✅ Example:

상처가 타는 듯이 아파요. – The wound burns like it’s on fire.

6.14 터질 듯 (teojil deut)

As if it’s about to burst—often used for pressure pain.
✅ Example:

머리가 터질 듯이 아파요. – My head feels like it’s about to explode.

6.15 후벼 파는 듯 (hubyeo paneun deut)

As if something is digging deeply inside—extremely intense.
✅ Example:

속이 후벼 파는 듯 아파요. – It feels like something is digging deep into me.

7. Common Nouns for Pain in Korean

These nouns refer to specific types or general categories of pain.
They’re frequently used in both medical and everyday Korean.

7.1 고통 (gotong)

General term for pain or suffering (physical or emotional).
✅ Example:

그의 고통을 이해할 수 없다. – I cannot understand his pain.

7.2 통증 (tongjeung)

Pain or painful sensation (often chronic or medical).
✅ Example:

그는 만성 통증을 앓고 있다. – He suffers from chronic pain.

7.3 두통 (dutong)

Headache.
✅ Example:

너무 피곤해서 두통이 난다. – I have a headache because I’m so tired.

7.4 요통 (yotong)

Lower back pain.
✅ Example:

무거운 짐을 들어서 요통이 생겼다. – I got lower back pain from lifting something heavy.

7.5 복통 (boktong)

Stomach pain.
✅ Example:

복통이 있어 병원에 갔다. – I went to the hospital because of stomach pain.

7.6 생리통 (saengritong)

Menstrual pain.
✅ Example:

생리통이 너무 심해서 하루 종일 누워 있었다. – I was lying down all day because of severe menstrual pain.

7.7 진통 (jintong)

Pain relief or labor pain (context-dependent).
✅ Example:

진통제를 먹고 나서 조금 나았다. – I felt a bit better after taking painkillers
산모의 진통이 시작됐다. – The mother’s labor pains have started.

7.8 치통 (chitong)

Toothache.
✅ Example:

치통이 너무 심해서 치과에 갔다. – The toothache was so bad that I went to the dentist.

7.9 근육통 (geunyuktong)

Muscle pain.
✅ Example:

어제 운동을 해서 근육통이 심하다. – I have severe muscle pain because of yesterday’s workout.

7.10 산통 (santong)

Labor pain.
✅ Example:

산통이 너무 아파서 진통제를 맞았다. – The labor pains were so intense that I had to get an epidural.

7.11 성장통 (seongjangtong)

Growing pains.
✅ Example:

성장통 때문에 다리가 아프다. – My legs hurt because of growing pains.

Conclusion

Learning how Koreans describe pain helps you communicate more naturally and specifically in real-life situations.
Whether you’re explaining a headache, muscle soreness, or emotional hurt, knowing the right verb or noun makes a big difference.
Review the expressions by category, and try using them when watching Korean dramas or talking with native speakers.

Pain may be hard to deal with, but expressing it in Korean doesn’t have to be.

When Koreans describe pain, they often use 아이고(aigo). Find out what it means.