痛骂 means 'to scold harshly' or 'to berate severely.' The first character, 痛 (tòng), literally means 'painful' or 'intense,' and here it intensifies the action—conveying emotional severity, not physical pain. The second character, 骂 (mà), means 'to scold' or 'to curse.' Together, 痛骂 emphasizes a forceful, emotionally charged reprimand, often expressing anger, disappointment, or moral outrage. It’s stronger than ordinary scolding (责备 zébèi) and implies the speaker is deeply upset.

This verb is commonly used in written Chinese and formal spoken contexts—such as news reports, literature, or serious conversations—but is generally avoided in polite, everyday speech due to its harshness. It typically takes a direct object (e.g., 痛骂某人) and may be modified by adverbs like 当众 (in public) or 毫不留情地 (without mercy). It does not imply physical violence, only verbal severity.