How to Say ‘Hurt / painful’ in Japanese
いたい
itai
[ee-tah-ee]
💬 Usage Tip: [いたい] is an adjective meaning “painful.” You can point to the spot and say it—very effective with minimal Japanese.
🇯🇵 In Japan: Pharmacists often ask follow-ups (when/where/how bad). Saying [いたい] + pointing is a normal, accepted way to communicate quickly.
Phrase Breakdown
いたい
itai
[ee-tah-ee]
painful; hurts
い-adjective meaning “hurts.” Often used as ～がいたい (e.g., おなかがいたい). Can describe current pain.
朝からずっとおなかがいたいです。
My stomach has been hurting since morning.
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