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March 24, 2026
嘔ǒu(ou3)
The character 嘔 (ǒu) primarily means 'to vomit' and is often used in medical or health-related contexts. It can also convey feelings of annoyance or anger, especially in informal conversations when describing something that disgusts or irritates someone.
Strokes14Radical口Frequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese medicine, the act of vomiting (嘔) is often discussed in the context of diagnosing ailments, highlighting the importance of gastrointestinal health in Chinese culture.
Memory Tip
Imagine someone feeling so nauseous they are about to 'ooh' and 'ugh' as they vomit. The sound 'ǒu' mimics the groan of someone who is about to throw up, while the character itself has a mouth radical (口) which relates to the act of vomiting.
Meanings of 嘔
ǒu(ou3)
1to vomit; to annoy, to enrage
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
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About 嘔
嘔Simplified
14Strokes
口Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 嘔
Podcast: 嘔
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AI Study Notes for 嘔
Quick Contrast
呕 (ǒu) vs 嗯 (ng) — choose 嘔 (ǒu) for vomiting or disgust, while 嗯 (ng) is an expression of agreement or acknowledgment.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine someone feeling so nauseous they are about to 'ooh' and 'ugh' as they vomit. The sound 'ǒu' mimics the groan of someone who is about to throw up, while the character itself has a mouth radical (口) which relates to the act of vomiting.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 嘔 with other characters related to sickness, such as 吐 (tù), which also means 'to vomit' but emphasizes the action more directly. 嘔 can be used informally in conversations, but avoid using it in formal writing.
HSK Study Tips
As this character is not included in the HSK levels, focus on its practical application in health-related vocabulary. Connecting it to other verbs describing bodily actions, such as 吐 (tù) and 嗳 (ǎi), will enhance your understanding of related terms.
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese medicine, the act of vomiting (嘔) is often discussed in the context of diagnosing ailments, highlighting the importance of gastrointestinal health in Chinese culture.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse 嘔 with 吐 and use them interchangeably. For example, saying '我嘔了' (Wǒ ǒu le) instead of '我吐了' (Wǒ tù le) can sound awkward. Remember that 嘔 is more about the feeling of nausea.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 嘔
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Cultural Notes for 嘔
🏮Cultural insight
In traditional Chinese medicine, the act of vomiting (嘔) is often discussed in the context of diagnosing ailments, highlighting the importance of gastrointestinal health in Chinese culture.
Word Family of 嘔
Words Containing This Character5
呕吐ǒutùto vomit嘔吐
呕ǒuvomit嘔
作呕to feel sick作嘔
呕心沥血to work one's heart out嘔心瀝血
干呕to retch乾嘔
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 呕吐 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 嘔
No, 嘔 is typically used in informal contexts and should be avoided in formal writing.
Yes, it can also express feelings of annoyance or disgust.
吐 (tù) is more direct in meaning 'to vomit', while 嘔 (ǒu) carries a nuance of disgust or irritation.
