Word
pains
US/ˈpeɪnz/
UK/pˈeɪnz/
In Japanese
pains; hard work; effort
Japanese from JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0. All sources.
Definitions
01physical or emotional hurting
A2 · Elementary Countable noun
n. more than one feeling of physical or emotional suffering.
n. the plural of 'pain', referring to multiple instances or types of physical suffering or emotional distress.
“After the long hike, he had sharp pains in his knees and back.”
“The patient described recurring abdominal pains that intensified shortly after eating, suggesting a chronic digestive issue.”
02careful effort
C1 · Advanced Plural noun Formal
n. great care or effort taken to do something correctly.
n. meticulous effort or trouble taken to accomplish a task; usually appears in the phrase 'to take pains'.
“She took great pains to make sure every name was spelled correctly.”
“The historian took great pains to verify the authenticity of the letters before publishing his findings.”
Usage
Always used in the plural form in this sense; typically follows the verb 'take'.
Pitfall
He took pain to finish the work.
He took pains to finish the work.
In the sense of making a careful effort, the word must be plural: 'pains'.
Antonyms
Real-World Examples
“He told the court he was driven to kill Thompson because of his experience with the healthcare system "after years of enduring severe pains from a broken back".” “As a minority citizen, one shares the joys and pains and achievements of others.” Idioms
01. take great pains
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990EikenEikenTest in Practical English ProficiencyThe English proficiency test from the Eiken Foundation of Japan, widely taken by Japanese students. Grades run from 5 to 1, with Pre-1 and Pre-2 between them.Grade 1
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/pains