pijnlijke

Pijnlijke is a Dutch adjective meaning painful. It describes things that cause physical pain, discomfort, or distress, and it can also be used for emotional or moral pain, such as distressing memories or situations. In Dutch, pijnlijke is commonly used in attributive position before a noun (for example, een pijnlijke wond, de pijnlijke waarheid, pijnlijke herinneringen).

Etymology and related terms: the word derives from pijn (pain) and the suffix -lijk, which forms adjectives meaning “like” or “characteristic of.” The base adjective in Dutch is often presented as pijnlijk, with pijnlijke serving as the form used before nouns in definite or plural contexts. The related noun is pijn (pain), and related adjectives include pijnlijk (often used predicatively, as in de wond is pijnlijk).

Usage and nuance: pijnlijke is versatile across domains. In medical or clinical contexts it describes symptoms or injuries portrayed as distressing or harmful, such as pijnlijke klachten (painful symptoms) or pijnlijke wonden (painful wounds). In everyday language it can convey emotional hurt or troubling experiences, e.g., pijnlijke herinneringen (painful memories), pijnlijke waarheid (the painful truth). The choice between pijnlijk and pijnlijke depends on the syntactic position and number/definiteness of the noun that follows.

See also: pijn (pain), pijnstiller (painkiller), pijnloos (painless). Pijnlijke is part of a family of terms used to describe the experience of pain and its impact on individuals, whether physical or emotional.