Translation guide
The English word "sore" refers to physical pain or tenderness in a specific part of the body, often from overuse, injury, or illness. In Japanese, the most common and natural way to express this is with the adjective 痛い (itai), which means "painful" or "sore." There are also more specific terms for muscle soreness, throat soreness, and other types of soreness.
Expressing that a body part is sore or painful in a general sense, such as from overuse, minor injury, or illness.
The most common and versatile adjective for "sore" or "painful." Can be used for muscles, joints, throat, etc. Use with the body part marked by が (ga).
Specifically means "muscle soreness" or "muscle pain," often used for delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) after exercise.
昨日の運動で筋肉痛だ。
I have muscle soreness from yesterday's exercise.
A slightly more formal or descriptive way to say "there is soreness/pain." Can be used in medical contexts.
腰に痛みがあります。
I have soreness in my lower back.
Specifically referring to a sore throat, often from a cold or overuse.
Describing muscle soreness, especially delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) after physical activity.
The standard term for muscle soreness, especially after exercise.
筋肉痛で階段を降りるのがつらい。
My muscles are so sore that going down stairs is tough.
A more general phrase meaning "my body is sore," often used after intense exercise or physical labor.
久しぶりに運動したら、体が痛い。
My body is sore after exercising for the first time in a while.
Expressing eye soreness or strain, often from looking at screens or lack of sleep.
The direct way to say "my eyes are sore."
パソコンを長時間見ていて、目が痛い。
My eyes are sore from looking at the computer for a long time.
A medical/technical term for eye strain or asthenopia. Used in formal or clinical contexts.
眼精疲労の症状として、目が痛い。
As a symptom of eye strain, my eyes are sore.
Describing soreness or discomfort from prolonged pressure on a body part, like bedsores or just stiffness.
Specifically means "I got a bedsore." Used for actual sores from prolonged bed rest.
入院中に床ずれができて痛い。
I got a bedsore during hospitalization and it's sore.
Literally "my butt is sore," used when sitting for too long on a hard surface.
長い会議でお尻が痛くなった。
My butt got sore from the long meeting.
Using "sore" in a figurative sense, like "sore loser" or "sore spot."
Means "hate to lose" or "sore loser." Describes a person who is a poor sport.
彼は負けず嫌いだから、ゲームに負けると怒る。
He's a sore loser, so he gets angry when he loses a game.
Idiom meaning "to touch a sore spot" or "to hit where it hurts."
彼の言葉は痛いところを突いた。
His words hit a sore spot.
There is no single Japanese word that directly corresponds to the English adjective 'sore' in all contexts. The most common equivalent is 痛い (itai), which means 'painful' or 'sore.' Using a dictionary translation like 痛む (itamu, 'to hurt') as an adjective may sound unnatural. Always use 痛い or a specific compound like 筋肉痛 for muscle soreness.
To say a specific body part is sore, use the pattern [body part] が 痛い. For example, 足が痛い (ashi ga itai) means 'my leg is sore.' If you want to emphasize that it's your own body part, you can add 私の (watashi no) before the body part, but it's often omitted when context is clear.