New here? This is lesson 104 of a free 240-lesson Traditional Chinese course.
Where it hurts in Traditional Chinese
Maya wakes up feeling sick in her apartment on Banyan Lane. Before she can decide what to do, A-Li arrives with soup she never asked for.
Learn to name a headache, a sore throat, and a stomachache. You will also say when your hand is hurt, point out a painful spot, and describe back pain.
These short lines help you tell a friend what is wrong before a clinic visit.
By the end of this lesson
Name common aches and tell someone which part of your body hurts.
- 頭痛A headache.
- 喉嚨痛A sore throat.
- 肚子痛A stomachache.
- 我的手受傷了My hand is hurt.
- 這裡會痛It hurts here.
- 我背很痛My back really hurts.
Scene — an unexpected delivery
Maya wakes up with a cold in her apartment above the scooter shop. A-Li comes to her door carrying a container of soup, although she did not ask him to bring anything.
He still has his own unfinished soy milk back at the breakfast shop. For now, Maya needs to explain how she feels.
Learn — name where it hurts
Start with three common aches, then listen to longer lines for an injured hand and pain in a particular place. Say each line aloud while imagining the body part you mean.
頭痛
A headache.
When to use it: Say this when your head hurts.
喉嚨痛
A sore throat.
When to use it: Say this when your throat hurts, especially when you are sick.
肚子痛
A stomachache.
When to use it: Say this when your stomach hurts.
我的手受傷了
My hand is hurt.
When to use it: Use this to tell someone you have injured your hand.
The final particle marks the injury as something that has happened.
這裡會痛
It hurts here.
When to use it: Point to a spot on your body as you say this.
會 indicates that pain can or will happen there; for example, ask whether pressing here hurts.
我背很痛
My back really hurts.
When to use it: Say this when the pain is in your back.
Story — soup at the door
Listen as A-Li checks on Maya at her apartment door. He has brought soup without asking first, and their conversation reveals that he has a complaint of his own.
A-Li瑪雅，怎麼了？Maya, what's wrong?
Maya頭痛，喉嚨痛。A headache and a sore throat.- A-Li我帶湯來了，你要嗎？I brought soup. Do you want some?
- Maya不用，謝謝。No need, thanks.
- A-Li我肚子痛，可能吃太多蛋餅了。My stomach hurts. Maybe I ate too many egg pancakes.
- Maya你先坐吧。Have a seat first.
- A-Li你的手怎麼了？What happened to your hand?
- Maya我的手受傷了，剛剛撞到門。I hurt my hand. I bumped it against the door just now.
- A-Li這裡會痛嗎？Does it hurt here?
- Maya這裡會痛。我背很痛。It hurts here. My back really hurts too.
- A-Li那我把湯放這裡。Then I'll leave the soup here.
- Maya好喔，你的豆漿呢？Okay. What about your soy milk?
- A-Li還沒喝完。I haven't finished it yet.
Practice — describe an ache
Choose, assemble, and complete lines about what hurts. Some exercises ask you to recognize a short answer; others ask you to describe a specific body part.
Check the meaning before choosing.
0 of 9 done
What does it mean?
What does it mean?
頭痛
Build the line
Build the line
A sore throat.
Tap the words in order.
What did you hear?
What did you hear?
Fill the gap
Fill the gap
My hand is hurt.
我的____受傷了
Swap the word
Swap the word
You are pointing at the sore spot on your hand, not a spot farther away.
____會痛
Build the line
Build the line
My back really hurts.
Tap the words in order.
What do you say?
What do you say?
Your friend looks unwell. Ask what is wrong.
Pick the reply
A-Li says:
Pick the reply
我帶湯來了，你要嗎？
I brought soup. Do you want some?
And you reply with:
Match the pairs
Traditional Chinese
頭痛Drop the English here喉嚨痛Drop the English here肚子痛Drop the English here我背很痛Drop the English hereEnglish
Say it — tell someone what hurts
Play Maya while A-Li asks how you feel. Answer with the right ache, then tell him about your hand and point to the painful spot.
Listen to his question before each turn. You can replay it and try your answer again.
- A-Li瑪雅，怎麼了？Maya, what's wrong?
- Maya (you)Tell A-Li you have a headache.
Tell A-Li you have a headache.
頭痛
A headache.
0 of 5 said
Recap — what you can say now
| Traditional Chinese | English | Play |
|---|---|---|
| 頭痛 | A headache. | |
| 喉嚨痛 | A sore throat. | |
| 肚子痛 | A stomachache. | |
| 我的手受傷了 | My hand is hurt. | |
| 這裡會痛 | It hurts here. | |
| 我背很痛 | My back really hurts. |
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Keep practicing with Yak Cards
Review today's lines about aches and injuries in Yak Cards.
Practice naming the body part before you need to explain where it hurts.
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