阵痛

zhèntòng

阵痛 — zhèntòng

1. labor pains (contractions during childbirth)

   她临产时开始有阵痛。 tā línchǎnshí kāishǐ yǒu zhèntòng — She began to have labor pains when she went into labor.

2. (fig.) pains or distress caused by a disruptive change (e.g., economic or organizational)

   改革初期的阵痛是难免的。 gǎigé chūqī de zhèntòng shì nánmiǎn de — The growing pains at the start of the reform are unavoidable.