HSK 6, v, 6 strokes, radical 口, rank #1458, Medium
吐
tǔ
to put
HSK 6, v, 6 strokes, radical 口, rank #1458, Medium
吐
tǔ
to say
HSK 6, v, 6 strokes, radical 口, rank #1458, Medium
吐
tǔ
to vomit
HSK 6, v, 6 strokes, radical 口, rank #1458, Medium
吐
tǔ
to throw up
HSK 6, v, 6 strokes, radical 口, rank #1458, Medium
吐
tǔ
to vomit, to spew out, to cough up; to say
HSK 6, v, 6 strokes, radical 口, rank #1458, Medium
吐
tù
to spit
HSK 6, v, 6 strokes, radical 口, rank #1458, Medium
吐
tù
to put
HSK 6, v, 6 strokes, radical 口, rank #1458, Medium
吐
tù
to say
HSK 6, v, 6 strokes, radical 口, rank #1458, Medium
吐
tù
to vomit
HSK 6, v, 6 strokes, radical 口, rank #1458, Medium
吐
tù
to throw up
HSK 6, v, 6 strokes, radical 口, rank #1458, Medium
吐
tù
to vomit, to spew out, to cough up; to say
HSK 6, v, 6 strokes, radical 口, rank #1458, Medium
tǔ(tu3)
primary
T3
1to spit
2to put
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
吐tǔ(tu3)
The character 吐 (tǔ) primarily means 'to spit' or 'to vomit.' It conveys the action of expelling something from the mouth, whether it be saliva or food. This verb is often used in both formal and casual contexts, and can also imply expressing thoughts or feelings verbally.
Strokes6Radical口Frequency#1458DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, discussing bodily functions like vomiting (吐) can be more common in casual settings and may not carry the same stigma as in some Western cultures. Food and drink are often shared, and the act of vomiting may be humorously referenced in social contexts.
Memory Tip
Imagine a cartoon character spitting out water (吐) while saying something loudly. The character 吐 has a mouth (口) and a 'throwing out' motion (土), which helps you remember that it involves expelling something. Remember the sound 'tǔ' as if the character is shouting while spitting!
Meanings of 吐
tǔ(tu3)
primary
1to spit
2to put
Exercise 1 of 3
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 吐
吐Simplified
6Strokes
口Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#1458Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L6IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRB2
Podcast: 吐
Podcast: 吐
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 吐
Quick Contrast
呕 (ǒu) - use 吐 (tǔ) for general spitting or vomiting, while 呕 (ǒu) specifically refers to retching or a more intense form of vomiting.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a cartoon character spitting out water (吐) while saying something loudly. The character 吐 has a mouth (口) and a 'throwing out' motion (土), which helps you remember that it involves expelling something. Remember the sound 'tǔ' as if the character is shouting while spitting!
Usage Notes
Be cautious when using 吐 in a formal context, as it may sound crude if referring to vomiting. Common collocations include 吐血 (tǔ xiě, 'to cough up blood') and 吐槽 (tǔcáo, 'to complain or criticize'). Pay attention to the tone; using the wrong tone can change the meaning.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 5 word, 吐 connects with other action verbs and can be paired with adverbs to describe the manner of the action. Focus on its different meanings in context, such as when it refers to verbal expression versus physical expulsion.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, discussing bodily functions like vomiting (吐) can be more common in casual settings and may not carry the same stigma as in some Western cultures. Food and drink are often shared, and the act of vomiting may be humorously referenced in social contexts.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 吐 with 听 (tīng, 'to listen') due to similar sounds. For example, saying 听 (tīng) when you mean 吐 (tǔ) can lead to misunderstandings. Always remember their distinct meanings.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 吐
Premium — Locked
AI tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 吐 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 吐 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Write correctly 3 times to earn XP
Grammar Patterns of 吐
吐 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 6 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The patterns below break down its most common sentence frames, with example sentences and practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) for each one.
是…的 emphasis是 + [V] + 的
HSK 3
This pattern emphasizes the action of the verb, often providing details about the action.
❝
他是吐了很多血的。
tā shì tǔ le hěn duō xuè de.
He is the one who spit out a lot of blood.
Exercise 1 of 1
Build the Sentence
He is the one who spit out a lot of blood.
Tap tokens to build the sentence
Common Confusions with 吐
吐vs图
tú
Both share a similar pronunciation but have different meanings.
吐vs土
tǔ
Same pronunciation but different meanings and contexts.
吐 is to spit or vomit, while 呕 specifically refers to the act of retching.
1
他吐了，但没有呕。
吐 is to spit or vomit, while 呕 specifically refers to the act of retching.
💡Think of 吐 as a general act of throwing up, while 呕 is more about the struggle involved.
Exercise 1 of 1
Spot the Difference
Which character means "to spit"?
or
Usage Notes for 吐
Mixing up 吐 and 嚥Common Error
Learners often confuse 吐 (to spit/vomit) with 嚥 (to swallow). It's important to remember their opposite actions.
1
他吐了，而不是嚥下去。
He spit it out, not swallowed it.
Exercise 1 of 1
Fill in the Blank
他____了，而不是嚥下去。
He spit it out, not swallowed it.
Example Sentences for 吐 (10)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
“嗯，”他承认道，“我有时候说话的确有点吐字不清。”
“ “，” ňg ，” tā chéng，“ rèn dào ，“ wǒ yǒu shí hòu shuō huà de què yǒu diǎn tǔ。”
"Well," he conceded, "I do sometimes mumble a bit."
2
她做了个鬼脸，向他吐了吐舌头。
tā zuò le gè guǐ liǎn， ， xiàng tā tǔ le tǔ shé。
She made a face and stuck out her tongue at him.
3
他们给她喝盐水好让她吐出来.
tā mén gěi tā hē yán shuǐ hǎo ràng tā tǔ chū lái.
They gave her salty water to make her vomit.
4
如果你非吐不可, 就请吐到备好的痰桶里.
rú guǒ nǐ fēi tǔ bù kě, , jiù qǐng tǔ dào bèi hǎo de tán tǒng.
If you must spit at all, please spit in the bucket provided.
Jets of compressed air gave the aircraft lateral and directional stability.
7
他打量着我，好像我刚刚吐在了他的牛仔裤上似的。
tā dǎ liáng zháo wǒ， ， hǎo xiàng wǒ gāng gāng tǔ zài le tā de niú zī kù shàng sì。
He peered at me like I'd just puked up on his jeans.
8
她起身在洗手池里吐了起来。
tā qǐ shēn zài xǐ shǒu chí lǐ tǔ le qǐ lái。
She got up and was sick in the handbasin.
9
他吸了一口烟，吐出了烟雾。
tā xī le yī kǒu yān， ， tǔ chū le yān。
He took a drag on his cigarette, and exhaled the smoke.
10
理查德又点了一支烟，朝着天花板喷云吐雾。
lǐ chá dé yòu diǎn le yī zhī yān， ， zhāo zháo tiān huā bǎn pēn yún tǔ。
Richard lit another cigarette and puffed smoke towards the ceiling.
Cultural Notes for 吐
💡Did you know?
In traditional Chinese medicine, spitting is sometimes associated with the body's ability to expel toxins. It is seen as a natural way to cleanse the body.
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, discussing bodily functions like vomiting (吐) can be more common in casual settings and may not carry the same stigma as in some Western cultures. Food and drink are often shared, and the act of vomiting may be humorously referenced in social contexts.
📜Proverb
有话直说 (yǒu huà zhí shuō) means 'speak frankly.' It relates to the idea of吐, as it encourages people to express what they think without reservation.
Word Family of 吐
Words Containing This Character20
吐tǔto spit
呕吐ǒutùto vomit嘔吐
吐露to tell
谈吐style of conversation談吐
吐蕃also pr. [Tǔfān]
吞吐to take in and send out (in large quantities)
吞吞吐吐tūntūntǔtǔto hold sth back
倾吐to pour out (emotions)傾吐
吐鲁番Turpan City in Xinjiang (Chinese: Tulufan)吐魯番
吐气to exhale吐氣
吐字diction
吐沫saliva
吞云吐雾to blow cigarette or opium smoke吞雲吐霧
吐谷浑Tuyuhun, a Xianbei 鮮卑|鲜卑 nomadic people吐谷渾
一吐为快to get sth off one's chest一吐為快
马克·吐温Mark Twain (Samuel Langhorne Clemens 1835-1910), US writer, novelist and humorist, author of Adventures of Huckleberry Finn 哈克貝利·芬歷險記|哈克贝利·芬历险记[Ha1 ke4 bei4 li4 · Fen1 Li4 xian3 Ji4]馬克·吐溫
上吐下泻to vomit and have diarrhea上吐下瀉
吐艳to burst into bloom吐艷
吐丝(of spiders, caterpillars, silkworms etc) to extrude silk吐絲
吐苦水fig. to complain bitterly
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 吐 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 吐
吐 (tǔ) simply means 'to spit' or 'to vomit', while 吐出 (tǔchū) specifically means 'to spit out' or 'to throw up'. The addition of 出 (chū) emphasizes the action of something coming out, making it a more specific expression.
Yes, 吐 (tǔ) can be used figuratively in Chinese, such as when someone 'spits out' their thoughts or opinions. For example, saying '他吐露了心声' (Tā tǔlùle xīnshēng) translates to 'He expressed his true feelings'. This shows its versatility in language.
吐 (tǔ) means 'to spit', 'to say', or 'to vomit'. It can refer to the physical act of spitting or vomiting, as well as expressing something verbally. This character is commonly used in various contexts in everyday conversation.
You can use 吐 (tǔ) in sentences like '我吐了' (Wǒ tǔle), meaning 'I vomited', or '他吐出了真相' (Tā tǔ chūle zhēnxiàng), meaning 'He spoke the truth'. It’s important to consider the context when using this character to ensure clarity.
You can say 吐了 (tǔle) to indicate that someone has vomited or used it in a phrase like 吐槽 (tǔcáo) to mean 'to complain.'
No, 吐 can also mean to spit or to express words, so context is essential.
Some synonyms include 呕吐 (ǒutù) specifically for vomiting and 吐出 (tǔchū) meaning 'to spit out.'
