Describing Symptoms and Severity in Mandarin Chinese
Learn to say what hurts, how much it hurts, and how long it has lasted in Mandarin, using 疼, 有点儿, 特别, 越来越 and duration phrases so a doctor or friend understands the details, not just "I have an allergy."
By MarcusFood & cafés · Yapr Learn
A basic sentence like 我过敏 (wǒ guòmǐn, I have an allergy) tells someone almost nothing useful. In real conversations with a doctor, pharmacist, teacher or friend, you need to say which part of the body is affected, how strong the feeling is, when it started, and whether it is getting better or worse. Mandarin handles this with a small set of patterns: a body part plus 疼 (téng, to hurt) or 痒 (yǎng, to itch), degree words such as 有点儿 (yǒudiǎnr, a little), 很 (hěn, very) and 特别 (tèbié, especially), and duration phrases placed after the verb, as in 疼了两天 (téng le liǎng tiān, hurt for two days). This lesson teaches those patterns step by step, with full sentences you can reuse the same day.
By the end, you can…
- name a body part and say it hurts or itches in a full Mandarin sentence.
- grade severity with 有点儿, 很, 特别 and 越来越.
- say how long a symptom has lasted using a duration phrase after the verb.
- ask and answer whether a symptom is getting better or worse.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
我嗓子特别疼。
My throat hurts a lot.
wǒ sǎngzi tèbié téng
嗓子 (sǎngzi) means throat. 特别 (tèbié) means especially or particularly, so this is stronger than 很疼 and works well when you want the listener to take the symptom seriously.
我胳膊上有点儿痒。
My arm itches a little.
wǒ gēbo shang yǒudiǎnr yǎng
胳膊 (gēbo) is arm, 上 (shang) means on, and 有点儿 (yǒudiǎnr) softens the statement to a mild level. Use this for a rash or a light allergic reaction rather than severe pain.
我头已经疼了两天了。
I have had a headache for two days already.
wǒ tóu yǐjīng téng le liǎng tiān le
The duration phrase 两天 (liǎng tiān) comes after the verb 疼. The first 了 marks the completion of the action, and the final 了 shows the situation still continues.
今天比昨天好多了。
Today is much better than yesterday.
jīntiān bǐ zuótiān hǎo duō le
比 (bǐ) compares two times, and 好多了 (hǎo duō le) means much better. Use it to report improvement after rest or medicine.
好像越来越严重了。
It seems to be getting more and more serious.
hǎoxiàng yuè lái yuè yánzhòng le
越来越 (yuè lái yuè) means more and more, and 严重 (yánzhòng) means serious. This is the sentence to use when a symptom is worsening and you may need medical help.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The core pattern for a symptom is: person plus body part plus degree word plus 疼 or 痒. For example, 我肚子很疼 (wǒ dùzi hěn téng, my stomach hurts a lot) and 我眼睛有点儿痒 (wǒ yǎnjing yǒudiǎnr yǎng, my eyes itch a little). Degree words sit directly before the feeling word, not at the end of the sentence. To add time, put the duration after the verb: 我咳嗽了三天 (wǒ késou le sān tiān, I coughed for three days). Do not translate English word order literally; Mandarin does not need a separate word for "for" in these duration phrases.
When to use it
Use 有点儿 when the symptom is mild and you do not want to alarm anyone, for example 我有点儿头晕 (wǒ yǒudiǎnr tóuyūn, I am a little dizzy). Use 很 or 特别 when the symptom is strong, as in 我牙特别疼 (wǒ yá tèbié téng, my tooth hurts a lot). Use 越来越严重了 when things are getting worse and you want advice or urgent help. With a doctor, be specific about location and duration rather than only saying 不舒服 (bù shūfu, unwell), because that phrase is vague and may delay a correct diagnosis.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
你哪儿不舒服？
Where are you uncomfortable?nǐ nǎr bù shūfu我嗓子特别疼，还有点儿咳嗽。
My throat hurts a lot, and I also have a bit of a cough.wǒ sǎngzi tèbié téng, hái yǒudiǎnr késou这样多久了？有没有发烧？
How long has it been like this? Do you have a fever?zhèyàng duō jiǔ le? yǒu méiyǒu fāshāo疼了三天了，今天好像越来越严重了。
It has hurt for three days, and today it seems to be getting worse.téng le sān tiān le, jīntiān hǎoxiàng yuè lái yuè yánzhòng leA little context goes a long way
In mainland clinics, doctors often ask short questions and expect brief, factual answers, so state the body part, severity and duration first, then add details if asked. With friends, a mild complaint like 我有点儿不舒服 is normal and does not require a long explanation. Avoid exaggerating with 特别 or 严重 if the symptom is minor, because those words signal that you want real help or medical attention.
One thing to watch for
Putting the duration before the verb, as in 我两天疼头.
Try this instead: In Mandarin the duration phrase follows the verb: 我头疼了两天 (wǒ tóu téng le liǎng tiān, my head hurt for two days). Keep the body part before the verb and the length of time after it.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How would you say "My stomach hurts a little"?
Show a sample answer
我肚子有点儿疼。
肚子 (dùzi) is stomach, 有点儿 marks a mild degree, and 疼 is the feeling word. 我肚子有一点疼 is also understandable, but 有点儿 is the natural spoken form.
2How do you say a symptom has lasted four days?
Show a sample answer
我咳嗽了四天了。
The verb 咳嗽 comes first, then 了, then the duration 四天, then a final 了 showing it continues. 我已经咳嗽四天了 is also correct and adds the sense of "already."
3Which sentence reports that a symptom is getting worse?
Show a sample answer
好像越来越严重了。
越来越 means more and more, and 严重 means serious, so the sentence shows worsening. 好像 (hǎoxiàng, it seems) makes the statement slightly less direct, which is common when you are not completely sure.
Name the body part, choose a degree word such as 有点儿, 很 or 特别, then put the duration after the verb, and use 越来越严重了 when you need to say it is getting worse.
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