吐 tǔ to vomit
to vomit; to spew out; to cough up; to spit; to pour out
How to remember 吐: 口 mouth + 土 earth = to vomit. The toddler opens his mouth wide, stuffs in a handful of garden earth and then starts to vomit everything.
Component breakdown
吐 = 口 mouth + 土 earth
- 口 mouth
- 土 earth
The toddler opens his mouth wide, stuffs in a handful of garden earth and then starts to vomit everything.
How it is used
- Two tones. Read tǔ = to spit out / utter deliberately: 吐痰 (tǔ tán) spit, 吐口水 (tǔ kǒushuǐ), 吐露心声 (tǔlù xīnshēng) pour out one's feelings.
- Read tù = to vomit involuntarily: 呕吐 (ǒutù) throw up, 吐了 (tù le) threw up.
- 吞吞吐吐 (tūntūntǔtǔ) means to hem and haw, speak haltingly. Slang 吐槽 (tǔcáo) = to poke fun at / gripe about.