schmerzhaft
painful
Causing physical pain.
EXAMPLE
Die Injektion beim Arzt war kurz, aber schmerzhaft.
The injection at the doctor’s office was brief but painful.
schmerzhaft
painful
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Meanings
schmerzhaft
painful
Causing mental or emotional pain; embarrassing or hurtful.
EXAMPLE
Es war eine schmerzhafte Erfahrung, von seinem besten Freund betrogen zu werden.
It was a painful experience to be betrayed by his best friend.
schmerzhaft
painful
Figuratively, clearly noticeable and unpleasant, especially with losses or cuts.
EXAMPLE
Das Unternehmen musste schmerzhafte finanzielle Einbußen hinnehmen.
The company had to suffer painful financial losses.
Usage tips
Word structure
The adjective 'schmerzhaft' (painful) is formed from the noun 'der Schmerz' (pain) and the ending '-haft'. The ending '-haft' means 'having something' or 'causing something'. 'Schmerzhaft' (painful) therefore literally means 'causing pain'.
EXAMPLE
Das Ziehen des Zahns war weniger schmerzhaft als erwartet.
Having the tooth pulled was less painful than expected.
Typical collocations
For emotional pain, 'schmerzhaft' (painful) is often combined with abstract nouns. Typical examples are 'eine schmerzhafte Erinnerung' (a painful memory), 'eine schmerzhafte Trennung' (a painful separation), or 'eine schmerzhafte Wahrheit' (a painful truth).
EXAMPLE
Die Trennung von seiner langjährigen Freundin war für ihn sehr schmerzhaft.
The separation from his longtime girlfriend was very painful for him.
Figurative meaning
In the figurative sense, 'schmerzhaft' (painful) is often used in economic or sports contexts to describe unpleasant losses or defeats. People then speak of 'schmerzhaften Verlusten' (painful losses) or 'einer schmerzhaften Niederlage' (a painful defeat).
EXAMPLE
Die Mannschaft musste eine schmerzhafte Niederlage im Finale hinnehmen.
The team had to suffer a painful defeat in the final.
Compare with
schmerzhaft vs weh
sore / painful
Weh and schmerzhaft can both express physical pain. Weh is used mainly in the colloquial expression wehtun (to hurt); schmerzhaft sounds more formal and can also come directly before a noun. In personal conversation, weh is often more appropriate, while schmerzhaft is more common in an objective description.
schmerzhaft
Seit dem Sturz ist jede Bewegung des Knies schmerzhaft.
Since the fall, every movement of my knee has been painful.
weh
Seit dem Sturz tut mir jede Bewegung des Knies weh.
Since the fall, every movement of my knee has hurt.
In real life
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