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唾 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
唾tuòsalivazg, 11 strokes, radical 口, rank #19368, Hard
唾tuòto spitzg, 11 strokes, radical 口, rank #19368, Hard
唾tuòto spit; to spit on; salivazg, 11 strokes, radical 口, rank #19368, Hard
tuò(tuo4) T4
  1. 1saliva
  2. 2to spit
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
唾tuò(tuo4)

The character 唾 (tuò) primarily means 'saliva' and can also refer to the action of 'spitting.' It is commonly used in contexts related to bodily functions, health discussions, or expressions of disgust. This character may carry a slightly negative connotation depending on the context in which it is used.

Strokes11Radical口Frequency#19368DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese medicine, saliva (唾) is often discussed in relation to health and bodily balance, emphasizing its importance in digestion and overall well-being. Spitting in public is generally frowned upon in contemporary Chinese society, highlighting social etiquette.

Memory Tip

Imagine a person named 'Tu' who accidentally spits (唾) while talking, causing a mess. The character has a mouth (口) radical, which connects to the action of spitting, making it easier to remember that 'tuò' relates to saliva and spitting.

Meanings of 唾

tuò(tuo4)
1saliva
2to spit
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 唾

唾Simplified
11Strokes
口Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#19368Frequency Rank

Podcast: 唾

JasonAmy

Podcast: 唾

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AI Study Notes for 唾

Quick Contrast

唾 (tuò) vs 吐 (tǔ) — use 唾 for 'saliva' or 'spitting' specifically related to bodily fluids, while 吐 refers more generally to 'vomit' or 'to spit out'.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a person named 'Tu' who accidentally spits (唾) while talking, causing a mess. The character has a mouth (口) radical, which connects to the action of spitting, making it easier to remember that 'tuò' relates to saliva and spitting.

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 唾 (tuò) with other similar-sounding words. This term is generally informal and may not be appropriate in formal settings. Common collocations include 唾液 (tuò yè - saliva) and 唾弃 (tuò qì - to spit on, to disdain).

HSK Study Tips

Although 唾 is not part of the official HSK curriculum, it is useful for learners at HSK 3 and above who are expanding their vocabulary. Focus on recognizing the character's components and practicing its pronunciation to avoid confusion with other words.

Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese medicine, saliva (唾) is often discussed in relation to health and bodily balance, emphasizing its importance in digestion and overall well-being. Spitting in public is generally frowned upon in contemporary Chinese society, highlighting social etiquette.

Common Mistakes

Learners often mix up 唾 (tuò) with 吐 (tǔ), leading to confusion between spitting saliva and vomiting. Always remember that 唾 is related to saliva and spitting, while 吐 refers to a more serious action of expulsion.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 唾

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Etymology of 唾

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Explanation

Phonosemantic compound. 口 represents the meaning and 垂 represents the sound.

Memory Hint

mouth

Semantic (meaning)口
+
Phonetic (sound)垂
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 唾?

Decomposition of 唾

IDS Structure⿰口垂
唾Full Character
=
口kou3
left
垂chui2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 唾?

Write 唾

唾

Practice writing 唾 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 唾

唾 carries 3 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.

Exercise 1 of 4

Complete the Sentence

黑格传达的意思是说胜利____手可得。

Haig's message was that victory was ripe for picking.

Example Sentences for 唾 (5)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
黑格传达的意思是说胜利唾手可得。

hēi gé chuán dá de yì sī shì shuō shèng lì tuò shǒu kě dé。

Haig's message was that victory was ripe for picking.
2
小剂量可抑制唾液分泌、支气管分泌及出汗.

xiǎo jì liáng kě yì zhì tuò yè fēn mì、 、 zhī qì guǎn fēn mì jí chū.

Small doses depress salivary and bronchial secretion and sweating.
3
有些唾液酸位于溶酶体的外表面.

yǒu xiē tuò yè suān wèi yú róng méi tǐ de wài biǎo miàn.

Some sialic acid is on the external surface of lysosomes.
4
迈克尔正给护士示范如何把他的唾液吸出来。

mài kè ěr zhèng gěi hù shì shì fàn rú hé bǎ tā de tuò yè xī chū lái。

Michael was showing the nurse how to suction his saliva.
5
阿尔奇嘟嚷了几声,又往地上啐了一口唾沫.

ā ěr qí dū rǎng le jī shēng, , yòu wǎng dì shàng cuì le yī kǒu tuò.

Archie grunted and spat on the floor.

Cultural Notes for 唾

🏮Cultural insight

In traditional Chinese medicine, saliva (唾) is often discussed in relation to health and bodily balance, emphasizing its importance in digestion and overall well-being. Spitting in public is generally frowned upon in contemporary Chinese society, highlighting social etiquette.

Word Family of 唾

Words Containing This Character9
唾液tuòyèsaliva
唾沫spittle
唾弃tuòqìto spurn唾棄
唾tuòsaliva
唾手可得easily obtained
唾骂to revile唾罵
唾液腺salivary gland
唾面自干to drain the cup of humiliation唾面自乾
唾余castoffs唾餘
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 唾液 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 唾

唾 (tuò) refers specifically to saliva and the act of spitting, while 吐 (tǔ) means to vomit or to spit out food.