HSK 5

English Meaning

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📚 Example Sentences

他生病了,吐了好几次。
Tā shēngbìng le, tù le hǎo jǐ cì.
He is sick and vomited several times.
孩子吐了,需要看医生。
Háizi tù le, xūyào kàn yīshēng.
The child vomited and needs to see a doctor.
她吃了坏东西,吐了出来。
Tā chī le huài dōngxi, tù le chūlái.
She ate something bad and threw it up.
他吐了。
Tā tù le.
He vomited.
别吐地上。
Bié tù dìshang.
Don't vomit on the ground.

💡 Memory Tip

Remember the tone: tù (fourth tone) sounds forceful and downward, like the action of vomiting. Associate it with the unpleasant feeling of being 'too' sick, linking 'tù' to 'too ill.' Contrast it with tǔ (third tone, to spit), which is more controlled.

📝 Usage Notes

This usage of 吐 (tù) is common in both spoken and written Chinese, though it is informal in tone due to its direct physiological meaning. It is typically used in contexts of sickness, extreme disgust, or adverse reactions to smells, tastes, or sights.

📖 Grammar Points

It is often used as a standalone verb (e.g., 他吐了). It can be combined with resultative complements like 出来 (tù chūlái - to vomit out) or directional complements. In the example, it appears in the structure '一...就...' (yī... jiù...) to express an immediate reaction: '一闻到...就想吐' (as soon as I smell it, I want to vomit).

🏯 Cultural Notes

In Chinese culture, discussing bodily functions like vomiting openly may be considered impolite in formal settings. The word can also be used metaphorically in idioms or slang, such as 吐苦水 (tù kǔshuǐ) meaning 'to pour out one's grievances,' but this uses the tǔ pronunciation.

🔄 Similar Words

Compared to 呕吐 (ōutù), which is a more formal or medical term for vomiting, 吐 (tù) is more colloquial and direct. It differs from 吐 (tǔ), which is pronounced with the third tone and means 'to spit' or 'to utter,' so tone is crucial for distinguishing meaning.

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