🇬🇧🇨🇳 heartache - 心痛 : English Lesson

Meaning of "heartache" ("心痛"), detailed definition, and a short video lesson below.

Heartache is the heavy, hurting feeling you get inside your chest when you are very, very sad about something or someone. It’s not the kind of hurt you get from bumping your elbow; it’s an emotional hurt that comes from your feelings, like when you miss someone a lot, feel left out, or something important to you is lost. Your heart doesn’t actually break, but it can feel tight, heavy, or like you might cry, and that deep sad feeling is called heartache.

Watch and listen to this English flashcard to understand the word in more detail, with an easy example sentence.

Her heartache over breaking her favorite cup was only comforted when she drew a happy face on its replacement.

His heartache at losing hide-and-seek was deepened by the fact that he had been hiding behind a see-through curtain.

His heartache over losing the last slice of pizza echoed through the house in the form of very dramatic sighs.

The cat stared at the empty food bowl with such heartache that we all apologized to it in three different languages.

People say they feel heartache in their heart, but the feeling actually comes from the brain—your brain is so powerful it can make your chest feel like it’s carrying a backpack full of sadness bricks.

She sat on a bench with a folded photo. Then heartache hit. The heartache came like a cold hand, the heartache tight in her chest. The heartache made her drop the photo; she picked it up, wiped her eyes, and let out a short laugh. A last heartache left a soft breath on her face. She stood and walked home.

This word is at the C2 level, which means it represents the highest mastery of English. It’s often used in specialized or highly formal contexts and helps you communicate with precision and subtlety, much like a native speaker.

Expanding your English vocabulary is one of the best ways to improve your pronunciation, spelling, and confidence in English. Watch the video above to memorize the word, understand its meaning, and see example sentences in action. Discover related words to grow your vocabulary naturally. Add words to your playlist for stress-free, effective learning—anytime, anywhere! Watch, learn, repeat.