ǒutù: 呕吐 - To Vomit, Nausea and Vomiting, Emesis

• Keywords: 呕吐, outu, how to say vomit in Chinese, Chinese word for throw up, puke in Chinese, nausea in Chinese, feeling sick in Chinese, Chinese medical vocabulary, ǒutù meaning, 呕吐 example sentences, 恶心, 想吐.
• Summary: Learn the essential Chinese medical term for “to vomit”: 呕吐 (ǒutù). This comprehensive guide explains its meaning, character origins, and practical use in modern China, from telling a doctor your symptoms to describing motion sickness. Discover the difference between 呕吐 (ǒutù), the colloquial 吐 (tǔ), and the feeling of nausea, 恶心 (ěxīn), with over 10 practical example sentences for beginner and intermediate learners.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): ǒutù
• Part of Speech: Verb, Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 5
• Concise Definition: The act of expelling matter from the stomach through the mouth; to vomit.
• In a Nutshell: 呕吐 (ǒutù) is the standard, and slightly formal, term for vomiting in Mandarin Chinese. It's the word a doctor would use, you'd see on a medical chart, or use in a more serious conversation about health. It encompasses the entire physical process, from retching to expelling. Think of it as the direct equivalent of the English verb “to vomit” or the medical noun “emesis.”

• 呕 (ǒu): This character is about the feeling or action of retching. The left-side radical, 口 (kǒu), means “mouth,” indicating an action related to the mouth. The right side, 区 (qū), primarily provides the phonetic sound. Together, they signify a physical reaction involving the mouth, like gagging or retching.
• 吐 (tǔ): This character means “to spit” or “to throw up.” It also features the 口 (kǒu) “mouth” radical. The right side, 土 (tǔ), means “earth” or “soil” and gives the character its sound. The combination paints a picture of expelling something from the mouth onto the ground.
• When combined, 呕吐 (ǒutù) forms a complete and specific medical term. 呕 (ǒu) is the heaving/retching, and 吐 (tǔ) is the final act of expelling. Together, they describe the full process of vomiting.

While “vomiting” is a universal physical act, its discussion and context can have cultural nuances in China. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), 呕吐 (ǒutù) is not merely a symptom of a stomach virus or food poisoning. It's often seen as a sign of a deeper imbalance in the body's energy, or 气 (qì). A TCM doctor might diagnose vomiting as a result of “Stomach Qi Rebellion” (胃气上逆, wèiqì shàngnì), where the natural downward flow of stomach energy is reversed, or due to “Liver Qi invading the Stomach” (肝气犯胃, gānqì fànwèi) caused by stress or anger. This contrasts with the typical Western biomedical approach, which would focus on identifying a pathogen or external cause. Therefore, when discussing 呕吐 in a medical context in China, don't be surprised if questions go beyond “What did you eat?” to include your emotional state, stress levels, and other seemingly unrelated symptoms to diagnose the root imbalance. Culturally, there's also a tendency towards stoicism, so people might use a softer phrase like 不舒服 (bù shūfu), “uncomfortable,” before admitting to a more severe symptom like 呕吐.

呕吐 (ǒutù) is used in several distinct contexts, ranging from formal to everyday.

• Medical Situations: This is the primary and most appropriate context. When you visit a doctor or hospital, using 呕吐 is the clearest and most accurate way to describe your symptom. It is neutral and clinical.
• Describing Sickness: When formally explaining an illness to a teacher or employer, 呕吐 is a suitable term. In casual conversation with friends, however, the single character 吐 (tǔ) is far more common. For example, you'd more likely text a friend, “我昨天晚上吐了” (Wǒ zuótiān wǎnshang tǔ le - I threw up last night).
• Figurative Disgust: While less common than in English, 呕吐 can be used figuratively to express extreme disgust, often paired with 恶心 (ěxīn), meaning “nauseating.” For instance, “他的行为真让人恶心呕吐” (Tā de xíngwéi zhēn ràng rén ěxīn ǒutù - His behavior is truly nauseating and makes one want to vomit). This usage is very strong and reserved for intense situations.

• Example 1:
  • 他吃了不干净的东西，开始呕吐。
  • Pinyin: Tā chīle bù gānjìng de dōngxi, kāishǐ ǒutù.
  • English: He ate something unclean and started to vomit.
  • Analysis: A straightforward sentence describing a cause-and-effect situation. This is a very common and neutral use of the term.
• Example 2:
  • 医生问我除了发烧，还有没有呕吐或者腹泻。
  • Pinyin: Yīshēng wèn wǒ chúle fāshāo, háiyǒu méiyǒu ǒutù huòzhě fùxiè.
  • English: The doctor asked me if, besides a fever, I also had vomiting or diarrhea.
  • Analysis: This showcases the term used in a typical medical consultation. Note how it's paired with other common symptoms.
• Example 3:
  • 怀孕初期的呕吐是很正常的反应。
  • Pinyin: Huáiyùn chūqī de ǒutù shì hěn zhèngcháng de fǎnyìng.
  • English: Vomiting during the early stages of pregnancy is a very normal reaction.
  • Analysis: Here, 呕吐 is used as a noun (“vomiting”) to describe the symptom of morning sickness.
• Example 4:
  • 孩子晕车了，在车上呕吐了一片。
  • Pinyin: Háizi yùnchē le, zài chē shàng ǒutù le yí piàn.
  • English: The child got carsick and vomited all over in the car.
  • Analysis: This example connects 呕吐 to a common cause, motion sickness (晕车). The phrase “一片” vividly describes the mess.
• Example 5:
  • 如果持续呕吐，请立即停止进食并去看医生。
  • Pinyin: Rúguǒ chíxù ǒutù, qǐng lìjí tíngzhǐ jìnshí bìng qù kàn yīshēng.
  • English: If you vomit continuously, please stop eating immediately and see a doctor.
  • Analysis: A formal instruction, the kind you might see on medication packaging or a health advisory.
• Example 6:
  • 昨晚他喝得太多了，半夜起来呕吐了好几次。
  • Pinyin: Zuówǎn tā hē de tài duō le, bànyè qǐlái ǒutù le hǎo jǐ cì.
  • English: He drank too much last night and got up in the middle of the night to vomit several times.
  • Analysis: A common real-life scenario. This describes vomiting as a result of excessive alcohol consumption.
• Example 7:
  • 我的小狗好像生病了，今天早上什么都没吃，还呕吐了黄色的液体。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ de xiǎo gǒu hǎoxiàng shēngbìng le, jīntiān zǎoshang shénme dōu méi chī, hái ǒutù le huángsè de yètǐ.
  • English: My puppy seems to be sick; he didn't eat anything this morning and also vomited a yellow liquid.
  • Analysis: Demonstrates that the term can be used for animals as well as humans.
• Example 8:
  • 严重的食物中毒会导致剧烈的呕吐。
  • Pinyin: Yánzhòng de shíwù zhòngdú huì dǎozhì jùliè de ǒutù.
  • English: Severe food poisoning can lead to violent vomiting.
  • Analysis: Here, 呕吐 is a noun, modified by the adjective “violent” (剧烈). This is common in more descriptive medical language.
• Example 9:
  • 我感到一阵恶心，差点就呕吐出来。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ gǎndào yí zhèn ěxīn, chàdiǎn jiù ǒutù chūlái.
  • English: I felt a wave of nausea and almost vomited.
  • Analysis: This sentence perfectly illustrates the relationship between feeling nauseous (恶心) and the act of vomiting. “出来” is a result complement, indicating the action was (almost) completed.
• Example 10:
  • 这部恐怖电影的血腥场面让我很不舒服，看得我想呕吐。
  • Pinyin: Zhè bù kǒngbù diànyǐng de xuèxīng chǎngmiàn ràng wǒ hěn bù shūfu, kàn de wǒ xiǎng ǒutù.
  • English: The bloody scenes in this horror movie made me very uncomfortable; watching it made me want to vomit.
  • Analysis: A good example of the figurative use of the term to express revulsion or disgust.

• 呕吐 (ǒutù) vs. 吐 (tǔ): This is the most important distinction.
  • 呕吐 (ǒutù): More formal, medical, and complete. Use it when talking to a doctor or in a serious context.
  • 吐 (tǔ): More colloquial and common in daily speech. It's the equivalent of “throw up” or “puke.” You'd say “我想吐 (wǒ xiǎng tǔ)” to a friend, not “我想呕吐 (wǒ xiǎng ǒutù).”
• Feeling Nauseous vs. Actually Vomiting: English speakers often confuse these.
  • 想吐 (xiǎng tǔ): “To want to throw up.” This describes the physical urge, the feeling that you are *about to* vomit. This is the most common way to say “I feel nauseous.”
  • 恶心 (ěxīn): This means “nauseous” or “disgusted.” It describes the general queasy feeling in your stomach, or a feeling of revulsion towards something. You can feel 恶心 without feeling like you are about to 吐.
• Common Mistake: Avoid saying “我是呕吐” (Wǒ shì ǒutù - I am vomit). The correct structure is to use it as a verb: “我呕吐了” (Wǒ ǒutù le - I vomited) or to express the feeling: “我有点想吐” (Wǒ yǒudiǎn xiǎng tǔ - I feel a bit like vomiting).

• 吐 (tǔ) - The common, single-character verb for “to vomit” or “to spit.” More colloquial than 呕吐.
• 恶心 (ěxīn) - To feel nauseous; disgusting. The feeling that often precedes vomiting.
• 晕车 (yùnchē) - Carsickness or motion sickness, a common trigger for 呕吐. (Also 晕船 yùnchuán for seasickness and 晕机 yūnjī for airsickness).
• 食物中毒 (shíwù zhòngdú) - Food poisoning, a frequent cause of vomiting.
• 腹泻 (fùxiè) - Diarrhea. A symptom that often accompanies 呕吐 in cases of stomach illness.
• 肠胃炎 (chángwèiyán) - Gastroenteritis (“stomach flu”). A medical condition where 呕吐 and 腹泻 are primary symptoms.
• 消化不良 (xiāohuà bùliáng) - Indigestion. Can cause discomfort and a feeling of nausea.
• 不舒服 (bù shūfu) - Uncomfortable; not feeling well. A general, polite way to say you are sick without giving specific details.