shāngkǒu: 伤口 - Wound, Cut, Gash

• Keywords: shangkou, shāngkǒu, 伤口, wound in Chinese, cut in Chinese, gash, scrape, injury in Chinese, how to say wound in Chinese, physical wound, emotional wound, emotional scar, Chinese medical terms.
• Summary: Learn how to use “伤口” (shāngkǒu), the essential Chinese word for a physical “wound,” “cut,” or “gash.” This guide explores its literal use in medical situations and everyday accidents, as well as its powerful metaphorical meaning for describing emotional pain and hurt feelings. Understand the character breakdown, cultural nuances, and see practical examples to master this fundamental term.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): shāngkǒu
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 4
• Concise Definition: A physical or emotional wound, cut, or injury.
• In a Nutshell: “伤口” (shāngkǒu) is the most common word for a break in the skin, from a small paper cut to a serious gash. Think of it as the physical “opening” caused by an injury. Crucially, it's also used metaphorically to describe emotional pain, like a “wound” to your heart or pride, making it a very versatile and expressive word in Chinese.

• 伤 (shāng): This character means “to injure,” “to harm,” or “injury.” The left-side radical `亻` (rén) means “person,” indicating that this character often relates to something happening to a person.
• 口 (kǒu): This character simply means “mouth,” “opening,” or “hole.”

When combined, `伤口 (shāngkǒu)` literally translates to an “injury opening.” This paints a clear picture of what a wound is: an opening on the body created by an injury.

The dual meaning of `伤口` (shāngkǒu) as both a physical and emotional wound is key to its cultural significance. While English speakers also talk about “wounded pride,” the use of `伤口` to describe emotional pain is arguably more common and integrated into everyday Chinese language. A helpful comparison is the Western concept of a “sore spot.” Touching on a “sore spot” is like touching an unhealed emotional `伤口`. The Chinese idiom 在伤口上撒盐 (zài shāngkǒu shàng sā yán), meaning “to rub salt in the wound,” is identical to its English counterpart, showing a universal understanding of how words can worsen existing pain. This ties into the cultural value of “face” or 面子 (miànzi). A verbal insult or public embarrassment isn't just awkward; it can create a deep emotional `伤口` that damages one's social standing and self-esteem. Therefore, being mindful of others' feelings to avoid creating such “wounds” is an important aspect of social harmony.

• Medical/First-Aid: This is the most direct usage. You use `伤口` when talking to a doctor, buying a bandage, or describing an accident.
  • Example: “你需要清洗一下伤口。” (You need to clean the wound.)
• Everyday Accidents: For minor cuts and scrapes at home or work.
  • Example: “小心，别碰到我的伤口。” (Be careful, don't touch my wound.)
• Emotional and Relational Context: This is very common in conversations about feelings, relationships, and past experiences. It's frequently used in songs, TV dramas, and literature to express heartache, betrayal, or trauma.
  • Example: “时间会治愈所有伤口。” (Time will heal all wounds.)

The connotation depends entirely on the context. It's neutral when describing a physical injury but carries a heavy, negative weight when discussing emotional pain.

• Example 1:
  • 你的手上有一个小伤口，需要贴个创可贴。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ de shǒu shàng yǒu yī ge xiǎo shāngkǒu, xūyào tiē ge chuàngkětiē.
  • English: You have a small cut on your hand, you should put a Band-Aid on it.
  • Analysis: A very common, practical sentence for a minor physical injury. `创可贴 (chuàngkětiē)` is the word for a Band-Aid.
• Example 2:
  • 医生帮我清洗并包扎了伤口。
  • Pinyin: Yīshēng bāng wǒ qīngxǐ bìng bāozā le shāngkǒu.
  • English: The doctor helped me clean and bandage the wound.
  • Analysis: This sentence demonstrates the use of `伤口` in a medical context. `包扎 (bāozā)` is the specific verb for “to bandage a wound.”
• Example 3:
  • 他的话像一把刀，在我心里留下了一道深深的伤口。
  • Pinyin: Tā de huà xiàng yī bǎ dāo, zài wǒ xīnlǐ liúxià le yī dào shēnshēn de shāngkǒu.
  • English: His words were like a knife, leaving a deep wound in my heart.
  • Analysis: A classic example of the metaphorical use of `伤口` for emotional pain. The measure word for a long, thin wound is `道 (dào)`.
• Example 4:
  • 别再提那件事了，你这是在我的伤口上撒盐！
  • Pinyin: Bié zài tí nà jiàn shì le, nǐ zhè shì zài wǒ de shāngkǒu shàng sā yán!
  • English: Don't bring that up again, you're just rubbing salt in my wound!
  • Analysis: This uses the popular idiom `在伤口上撒盐` to vividly express how bringing up a painful topic makes things worse.
• Example 5:
  • 虽然伤口已经愈合了，但伤疤还在。
  • Pinyin: Suīrán shāngkǒu yǐjīng yùhé le, dàn shāngbā hái zài.
  • English: Although the wound has healed, the scar is still there.
  • Analysis: This sentence can be interpreted both literally (a physical wound and scar) and metaphorically (an emotional wound has healed, but the memory/trauma remains). `愈合 (yùhé)` means “to heal.”
• Example 6:
  • 这个伤口很深，可能会感染。
  • Pinyin: Zhè ge shāngkǒu hěn shēn, kěnéng huì gǎnrǎn.
  • English: This wound is very deep, it might get infected.
  • Analysis: `深 (shēn)` means deep, and `感染 (gǎnrǎn)` means “to get infected.” This is important vocabulary for a more serious injury.
• Example 7:
  • 时间是最好的良药，它能抚平你内心的伤口。
  • Pinyin: Shíjiān shì zuì hǎo de liángyào, tā néng fǔpíng nǐ nèixīn de shāngkǒu.
  • English: Time is the best medicine, it can soothe the wounds in your heart.
  • Analysis: Another metaphorical example focusing on emotional healing. `抚平 (fǔpíng)` means to smooth out or soothe. `内心 (nèixīn)` means “innermost heart.”
• Example 8:
  • 为了不让父母担心，他没有告诉他们自己伤口的严重性。
  • Pinyin: Wèile bù ràng fùmǔ dānxīn, tā méiyǒu gàosù tāmen zìjǐ shāngkǒu de yánzhòngxìng.
  • English: In order not to make his parents worry, he didn't tell them the severity of his wound.
  • Analysis: Highlights a common cultural behavior of downplaying one's own suffering to protect loved ones. `严重性 (yánzhòngxìng)` means “severity.”
• Example 9:
  • 每次看到他，都会揭开我旧日的伤口。
  • Pinyin: Měi cì kàndào tā, dōu huì jiēkāi wǒ jiùrì de shāngkǒu.
  • English: Every time I see him, it reopens my old wounds.
  • Analysis: `揭开 (jiēkāi)` means “to uncover” or “to open up.” This sentence perfectly describes how a person or memory can trigger past trauma.
• Example 10:
  • 伤口护理不当会导致发炎。
  • Pinyin: Shāngkǒu hùlǐ bù dàng huì dǎozhì fāyán.
  • English: Improper wound care can lead to inflammation.
  • Analysis: A formal, instructional sentence. `护理 (hùlǐ)` is “care” (often in a medical sense), `不当 (bù dàng)` is “improper,” and `发炎 (fāyán)` is “inflammation.”

• `伤口 (shāngkǒu)` vs. `伤 (shāng)`: This is a key distinction. `伤口` specifically refers to an open wound, a break in the skin. `伤 (shāng)` is a much broader term for “injury.” A bruise (`青肿 qingzhong`) is a type of `伤`, but it is not a `伤口` because the skin isn't broken. You can also have an internal injury (`内伤 nèishāng`) with no external `伤口`.
  • Correct: 他摔倒了，受了点轻伤。(Tā shuāidǎo le, shòu le diǎn qīngshāng.) - He fell and got a minor injury.
  • Correct: 他腿上的伤口在流血。(Tā tuǐ shàng de shāngkǒu zài liúxuè.) - The wound on his leg is bleeding.
  • Incorrect: 我腿上有一个伤口，但是没破皮。(Wǒ tuǐ shàng yǒu yī ge shāngkǒu, dànshì méi pò pí.) - This is contradictory. If the skin isn't broken (`没破皮`), it's not a `伤口`.
• Don't overuse the emotional meaning: While `伤口` is used for emotional pain, using it for minor disappointments would be overly dramatic. It's reserved for significant emotional hurt, like a breakup, betrayal, or deep insult. For simple sadness, use 伤心 (shāngxīn) instead.

• 受伤 (shòu shāng) (shòu shāng) - A verb phrase meaning “to be injured” or “to get hurt.” `伤口` is the result of `受伤`.
• 伤疤 (shāngbā) (shāngbā) - A scar. This is the mark that remains after a `伤口` has healed.
• 伤害 (shānghài) (shānghài) - A verb meaning “to harm” or “to hurt.” It is stronger than `受伤` and can be used for both physical and emotional harm.
• 伤心 (shāngxīn) (shāngxīn) - Sad, heartbroken. Literally “injured heart.” This is a common adjective for emotional sadness.
• 包扎 (bāozā) (bāozā) - To bandage or dress a wound. The action you perform on a `伤口`.
• 创可贴 (chuàngkětiē) (chuàngkětiē) - Band-Aid, adhesive plaster. What you put on a small `伤口`.
• 愈合 (yùhé) (yùhé) - To heal. This verb is specifically used for wounds and fractures closing up and getting better.
• 疼痛 (téngtòng) (téngtòng) - Pain, ache. The feeling you get from a `伤口`.
• 消毒 (xiāo dú) (xiāo dú) - To disinfect, to sterilize. An important step in treating a `伤口`.
• 在伤口上撒盐 (zài shāngkǒu shàng sā yán) - (Idiom) To rub salt in the wound.