痛む・傷む|いたむitamu[2]nakadaka (mid-high)
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Which spelling to use
痛む痛む（いたむ） is the more common written form and the recommended default for beginners when writing this word.
傷む傷む（いたむ） is a less common written form of the same word; beginners should generally choose 痛む（いたむ） instead.
Definitions
- godan verb, intransitive verbto hurt; to ache; to feel a painesp. 痛む彼はいま歯が痛むのでよくかむことができない。↗He can't chew well, because he has a toothache now.
- godan verb, intransitive verbto be injured; to be spoiled (e.g. food); to be damagedesp. 傷む
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 痛む（いたむ） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 痛みます（いたみます） |
| Negative (nai) | 痛まない（いたまない） |
| polite (masen) | 痛みません（いたみません） |
| classical zu / nu | 痛まず・痛まぬ（いたまず・いたまぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 痛んだ（いたんだ） |
| polite (mashita) | 痛みました（いたみました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 痛まなかった（いたまなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 痛みませんでした（いたみませんでした） |
| Te form | 痛んで（いたんで） |
| Potential | 痛める（いためる） |
| Passive | 痛まれる（いたまれる） |
| Causative | 痛ませる（いたませる） |
| Causative passive | 痛ませられる・痛まされる（いたませられる・いたまされる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 痛めば（いためば） |
| tara | 痛んだら（いたんだら） |
| Volitional | 痛もう（いたもう） |
| polite (mashou) | 痛みましょう（いたみましょう） |
| Imperative | 痛め（いため） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Transitive / intransitive pair
足が痛む
足を痛める
痛む is intransitive and emphasizes the body part itself hurting or aching; 痛める is transitive and emphasizes someone causing injury to that body part, as in 足が痛む and 足を痛める.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Synonyms & antonyms
- SynonymうずくNeutralFor pain that throbs or twinges, as in a wound; also figuratively for a dull ache in the heart. 「痛む」 is broader and also covers food going bad.
- Related苦しむくるしむNeutralTo suffer anguish, physical or mental, as in 「痛みに苦しむ」. 「痛む」 focuses on the pain itself or on things being damaged.
- RelatedピリピリCasualColloquial mimetic word for stinging or tingling sensations, and also for a tense, on-edge atmosphere. 「痛む」 is the broader, general verb.
- Related痛めるいためるNeutralThe transitive counterpart: to injure or strain something, as in 「腰を痛める」. 「痛む」 is intransitive, describing the hurt from the sufferer's side.
- RelatedヒリつくCasualColloquial: to sting or smart with a burning sort of pain. 「痛む」 is the broader, general word for hurting.
- RelatedヒリヒリCasualColloquial mimetic word for a burning, stinging pain on the skin. 「痛む」 is a general verb that covers pain of any kind.
- Antonym治るなおるNeutralAntonym on the illness side: to recover from a disease or ailment, the counterpart of 「痛む」 when the body hurts.
- Antonym直るなおるNeutralAntonym on the damage side: to be mended or restored to normal, the counterpart of 「痛む」 when objects are damaged.
Default to 「痛む」 for pain in the body or heart, damage, and spoiled food. Use 「疼く」 for throbbing pain, 「ヒリつく」「ヒリヒリ」「ピリピリ」 for stinging, 「苦しむ」 for suffering, and 「痛める」 to injure something. Antonyms: 「治る」 (recovering from illness) and 「直る」 (being repaired).
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also
