Understanding '고통'
'고통' refers to physical or emotional suffering and is often used in both medical and everyday contexts. It conveys a strong sense of pain or distress.
Usage in Sentences
You can use '고통' to describe severe physical pain, emotional hardship, or psychological suffering. It is a noun and often appears with verbs like '참다' (to endure), '겪다' (to experience), or '느끼다' (to feel).
Common Collocations
- 고통을 참다: to endure pain, used when someone is trying to bear suffering without complaint.
- 고통을 겪다: to go through suffering, often used to describe experiencing hardship.
- 고통에서 벗어나다: to escape from suffering, used when someone recovers or is relieved.
Register and Nuance
'고통' is a formal and somewhat serious word, suitable for written and spoken language when discussing pain or suffering in a respectful or serious tone. It is less casual than words like '아픔' (pain) and often implies deeper or more intense suffering.
Common Mistake
Learners sometimes confuse '고통' with '아픔'. While both relate to pain, '아픔' is more general and can be used for minor aches or emotional pain, whereas '고통' implies more intense or prolonged suffering. Use '고통' when emphasizing severity or endurance.