Questions on the word シクシク


I understand that the word シクシク is 擬声語/giseigo/onomatopoeia equivalent to the
English "boo-hoo/boo-hoo-hoo."

> 恐怖でシクシク泣く  
>  : To whimper in fear
>
> 彼女はボーイフレンドに捨てられた時、あまりの惨めさにシクシクと泣いた。  
>  : She wailed in misery when her boyfriend dumped her.

However, I also see it as a qualifier for pain, but I can't tell what kind of
pain it describes. Is it a pain so "gripping" as to make one sob, or is it a
"dull" pain (which implies something more to be inconvenienced or annoyed by)?

> シクシクと痛みます  
>  : It is a dull pain.
>
> 胃がシクシク痛む  
>  : have a gripping pain in one's stomach




シクシク implies continuing, moderate level of crying/pain. I don't know if their
etymology is related but 雨がシトシト降る also means that a moderate (not too hard,
but not soft either) level of rain continuously falls. Maybe this sound
pattern is associated with moderate, continuing things in Japanese.




I believe that シクシク describes a dull, gripping pain as in 締め付けられるような痛み.

I've heard it used most often in
[hospitals](http://www.city.iwaki.fukushima.jp/gaikokugo/dbps_data/_material_/gaikokugo/medicalGuidebook/Medical_Guidebook41-48.pdf)
to describe pain that a patient may be having.

Since you are describing a feeling using onomatopoeia, its implied meaning
might be a bit vague without sufficient context. It's akin to trying to
describe your car problem to a mechanic by imitating the car when it
experiences the problem. E.g. "When I go up the hill my car goes *Grunt*
*Plunk* *Poot* *Che-Che-Che*"

鈍痛 might be more appropriate to refer to dull pain in general.

