How to say “It hurts” in Korean

  1. 아파요apayo

    It hurts

"It hurts" in Korean is 아파 (apa), or 아파요 (apayo) to be polite. To say where it hurts, put the body part first: 머리가 아파요 (meoriga apayo), "My head hurts."

Ways to say it

KoreanLevelWhen to use it
아파
apa		Casual"It hurts" or "I'm in pain." To friends and family.
아파요
apayo		PolitePolite. Use it with a doctor, pharmacist or anyone older.
아픕니다
apeumnida		FormalFormal. Rare in daily speech.
아야
aya		Any"Ouch!" A reflex cry when something suddenly hurts.
여기가 아파요
yeogiga apayo		Polite"It hurts here." Very useful at a clinic, while pointing.
머리가 아파요
meoriga apayo		Polite"I have a headache," literally "my head hurts."

Examples

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At the doctor's office

It hurts here.

Stubbing a toe

Ouch!

After a long day

My head really hurts.
Kkachi the magpie

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Tips

The pattern is body part + 가 or 이 + 아파요. For example, 배가 아파요 (baega apayo) means "My stomach hurts" and 목이 아파요 (mogi apayo) means "My throat hurts."

아프다 also works for emotional pain. 마음이 아파 (maeumi apa) means "My heart hurts" or "It breaks my heart."

For a quick "ouch," Koreans say 아야 (aya) or just 아 (a).

More on 아파 in our Korean phrase guides.

Questions learners ask

How do you say "Ouch" in Korean?

Koreans say 아야 (aya) or a short 아 (a) when something suddenly hurts.

How do you say "My heart hurts" in Korean?

Say 마음이 아파 (maeumi apa). It is used for sadness and sympathy, not a medical problem.

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