ressentir and sentir

Question

In the phrase "quand j'ai senti/ressenti une douleur", is there any difference or preference between the verbs sentir and ressentir? And later in the passage could she have said "je me ressentais un peu mieux" or do you always use se sentir in that case?

Accepted Answer

Hi Paul,
Just to add to Chris'  answer, no, you cannot say 
je me ressentais un peu mieux
je me sentais un  peu mieux 
which uses the verb se sentir ( to feel).
Ressentir is transitive so you will have an object as in 
Je ressens de la colère envers lui = I feel anger towards him
In the case of douleur you can use both ressentir and sentir for to have a pain or to feel a pain.
Hope this helps

Answer

Sentir can mean the action of smelling and to feel in a concrete way, trough your senses, or your current emotional/physical status.
Tu sens la rose, tu sens bon, je me sens fatigué, je me sens heureux.
 
Ressentir is to feel but in an abstract way : a sentiment, an emotion, something that involves less your actual senses. It’s especially true for love : you would never say you would “sentir” love.
It usually is followed by a noun : je ressens de la fierté, je ressens du bonheur.

Answer