[[Characters]] #Characters \ #Anatomy-and-Living \ #Life # 疼 téng pain, ache ## Components [[疒 (nè)]] [[冫 (bīng)]] [[夂 (zhǐ)]] ## Meaning Nowadays, the character "疼" (téng) primarily means "pain" or "ache," referring to physical discomfort caused by illness or injury, such as in the phrases "疼痛" (téngtòng, pain) or "牙疼" (yáténg, toothache). Additionally, it can convey emotional affection or care, often used to describe feelings of love or deep concern for someone, as in "心疼" (xīnténg), meaning to feel distressed or to deeply care for someone. ## History The character "疼" (téng) is a compound ideogram. It combines two elements: "疒," which depicts a sickbed in ancient script, symbolizing illness or pain, and "冬," which refers to winter's harsh cold, implying that pain is something difficult to endure. Its original meaning is "pain." 1. It refers to the discomfort caused by illness or injury, as in "pain" or "toothache." 2. It can also express affection or care, as in "to love" or "to cherish." ## Evolution ### Oracular Script ? ### Bronze Script ? ### Seal Script ? ### Clerical Script ![[疼 cle.svg]] ### Regular Script ![[疼 reg.svg]]