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呕 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
呕ǒuvomitv, 7 strokes, radical 口, rank #11342, Very Hard
呕ǒuto vomit; to annoy, to enragev, 7 strokes, radical 口, rank #11342, Very Hard
ǒu(ou3)ou T3
  1. 1vomit
  2. 2to vomit; to annoy, to enrage
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March 24, 2026

呕(嘔)ǒu(ou3)

The character 呕 (ǒu) primarily means 'to vomit' or 'to regurgitate.' It can also imply feelings of annoyance or being enraged, often used in contexts where something is particularly disgusting or upsetting. This word is commonly used in both medical and casual conversations related to health or emotional reactions.

Strokes7Radical口Frequency#11342DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In traditional Chinese medicine, the act of vomiting is often associated with the body's way of expelling harmful substances. This reflects a cultural belief in the body's natural processes and the importance of maintaining balance.

Memory tip

Imagine the sound 'ǒu' resembling the noise someone makes right before they vomit. Picture someone feeling nauseous, holding their stomach, and preparing to let it all out, which visually ties back to the character's meaning of vomit.

Meanings of 呕

ǒu(ou3)
1vomit
2to vomit; to annoy, to enrage
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 呕

呕Simplified
嘔Traditional
7Strokes
口Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#11342Frequency Rank

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Podcast: 呕

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AI study notes for 呕

Quick Contrast

呕 (ǒu) vs 恶 (è) — use 呕 for physical vomiting or regurgitation, while 恶 refers to something bad or unpleasant in a moral or emotional sense.

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 呕 with similar-sounding words that carry different meanings. This term is generally used in informal contexts, particularly when discussing unpleasant physical sensations. It often collocates with words related to nausea and disgust.

HSK Study Tips

Although 呕 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it can be a useful addition for learners focusing on health-related topics. Students at this level should also pay attention to related vocabulary such as 恶心 (ěxīn - nauseous) to build a broader understanding.

Common Mistakes

Learners often misuse 呕 by applying it in contexts that are too formal. For example, saying '我呕这个项目' (I vomit this project) instead of choosing a more appropriate term like '我对这个项目很失望' (I am disappointed with this project).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 呕

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Etymology of 呕

Formation typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Explanation

Phonosemantic compound. 口 represents the meaning and 区 represents the sound. Simplified form of 嘔.

Memory hint

mouth

Semantic (meaning)口
+
Phonetic (sound)区
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

呕 = 口 + 区. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 呕

IDS Structure⿰口区
呕Full character
=
口kou3
left
区Ou1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 呕?

How to say vomit in Chinese

“vomit” in Chinese is呕ǒu

The character 呕 (ǒu) primarily means 'to vomit' or 'to regurgitate.' It can also imply feelings of annoyance or being enraged, often used in contexts where something is particularly disgusting or upsetting. This word is commonly used in both medical and casual conversations related to health or emotional reactions.

When to use 呕

Be careful not to confuse 呕 with similar-sounding words that carry different meanings. This term is generally used in informal contexts, particularly when discussing unpleasant physical sensations. It often collocates with words related to nausea and disgust.

呕 or something close to it

呕 (ǒu) vs 恶 (è) — use 呕 for physical vomiting or regurgitation, while 恶 refers to something bad or unpleasant in a moral or emotional sense.

What learners get wrong

Learners often misuse 呕 by applying it in contexts that are too formal. For example, saying '我呕这个项目' (I vomit this project) instead of choosing a more appropriate term like '我对这个项目很失望' (I am disappointed with this project).

Write 呕

呕

Practice writing 呕 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Grammar patterns of 呕

呕 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 2 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 4

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

赫尔·施密特无疑是我见过的最让人作____的人。

Herr Schmidt is certainly the most odious man I have ever met.

Example sentences for 呕 (10)

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1
赫尔·施密特无疑是我见过的最让人作呕的人。

hè ěr· Shī mì tè wúyí shì wǒ jiànguò de zuì ràng rén zuō ǒu de rén。

Herr Schmidt is certainly the most odious man I have ever met.
2
那只不过是以令人作呕的溜须拍马为能事的新闻报道。

nà zhǐbùguò shì yǐ lìng rén zuō ǒu de liū xū pāi mǎ wèi néng shì de xīnwén bàodào。

Nauseatingly fawning journalism that's all it is.
3
那人真是个令人作呕的伪君子!

nà rén zhēnshi gè lìng rén zuō ǒu de wěi jūnzǐ!

What a revolting humbug the man was!
4
如果患者进食欠佳,药物会让他们感觉作呕。

rúguǒ huànzhě jìn shí qiàn jiā, yàowù huì ràng tāmen gǎnjué zuō ǒu。

If the patient is poorly nourished, the drugs make them feel nauseous.
5
法官将这些犯罪行为描述为“令人作呕、说不出口”。

fǎguān jiāng zhèxiē fànzuì xíngwéi miáoshù wèi“ lìng rén zuō ǒu、 shuō bù chūkǒu”。

The judge described the offences as nauseating and unspeakable.
6
他突然觉得恶心,猛烈地干呕起来。

tā tūrán juéde ěxin, měngliè dì gān ǒu qǐlái。

Nausea surged in him and he retched violently.
7
闻到这令人作呕的气味,他皱眉蹙额.

wén dào zhè lìng rén zuō ǒu de qìwèi, tā zhòu méi cù é.

He screwed up his face at the nasty smell.
8
闻一下这种药——它有一种令人作呕的味道, 对 吗 ?

wén yíxià zhè zhǒng yào—— tā yǒu yī zhǒng lìng rén zuō ǒu de wèidào, duì ma?

Have a sniff of this medicine — It'smells revolting, doesn't it?
9
闻一下这种药——它有一种令人作呕的味道,对吗?

wén yíxià zhè zhǒng yào—— tā yǒu yī zhǒng lìng rén zuō ǒu de wèidào, duì ma?

Have a sniff of this medicine—it smells revolting,doesn't it?
10
婴儿一喂饱之后就会呕吐.

yīng’ér yī wèi bǎo zhīhòu jiù huì ǒutù.

Baby had no sooner finished his feed than it all camp up.

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Word Family of 呕

Words containing this character5
呕吐ǒutùto vomit嘔吐
呕ǒuvomit嘔
作呕zuò’ǒuto feel sick作嘔
呕心沥血ǒuxīnlìxuèto work one's heart out嘔心瀝血
干呕gān’ǒuto retch乾嘔
Exercise 1 of 4

Words with 呕

What does 呕吐 mean?

Frequently asked questions about 呕

You would use 呕 when talking about feeling sick, particularly when you feel like you might vomit, or when expressing disgust about something.

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