# 痛心疾首

tòng xīn jí shǒu

Feel deep distress or bitter regret

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Aching heart and painful head

**Register:** Emotional · formal

[People & connection](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/topics/relationships)

## When to use it

Describe strong grief over serious wrongs.

Too strong for minor inconvenience.

## Understanding the expression

Pain in both heart and head gives distress a physical shape. The expression often describes sorrow mixed with anger, regret, or moral concern when something serious has gone wrong. A person may lament waste, betrayal, harm, or a preventable loss. It belongs to strong emotional language and can sound formal. Using it for a small annoyance weakens its force and may make the reaction seem exaggerated.

## Examples

看到文物被毁，她痛心疾首。

### Traditional Chinese

看到文物被毀，她痛心疾首。

kàn dào wén wù bèi huǐ ， tā tòng xīn jí shǒu 。

She was deeply distressed by the destruction of relics.

他对自己的失误痛心疾首。

### Traditional Chinese

他對自己的失誤痛心疾首。

tā duì zì jǐ de shī wù tòng xīn jí shǒu 。

He bitterly regretted his mistake.

家属对这场事故痛心疾首。

### Traditional Chinese

家屬對這場事故痛心疾首。

jiā shǔ duì zhè chǎng shì gù tòng xīn jí shǒu 。

The families were anguished over the accident.

老师为学生受骗痛心疾首。

### Traditional Chinese

老師為學生受騙痛心疾首。

lǎo shī wèi xué shēng shòu piàn tòng xīn jí shǒu 。

The teacher was deeply distressed that students had been deceived.

## Sources & reference checks

Original explanations and examples from Chinese Idioms Almanac. Source-checked October 6, 2026.

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E7%97%9B%E5%BF%83%E7%96%BE%E9%A6%96)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=77&webMd=1&la=0)

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