唾 (tuò) - Spit, saliva & to spit

唾Tone 4

tuò ｜ 11 strokes ｜ radical:

婷婉

唾 · tuò

Spit, saliva;

to spit;

to show contempt.

Spit, salivato spitto show contempt.

Usage highlights

SalivaSpitSpit onSpit atSpit outSpit upon

Synonyms

  • 吐— to spit, vomit
  • 涎— saliva, slobber

Antonyms

  • 敬— respect, honor
  • 仰— admire, look up to

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He spit on the ground (唾在地上).
  • Saliva contains digestive enzymes (唾液).
  • She showed contempt for the idea (唾弃那个想法).
  • The wound needs to be cleaned of spittle (唾沫).

Collocations

  • Saliva(唾液)
  • Spit(唾沫)
  • Spit on(唾在)
  • Spit at(唾向)
  • Spit out(唾出)
  • Spit upon(唾弃)

Idioms

  • Spit and wait for it to dry(唾面自干)
  • Spit can sink a boat(唾沫淹死人)
  • Spit on and beat(唾骂交加)
  • Spit to show contempt(唾弃不顾)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In traditional Chinese culture, spitting on someone or something is a strong expression of contempt and disrespect.
  • The character appears in idioms warning against retaliation, as in '唾面自干' which advises enduring humiliation without complaint.
  • Saliva (唾液) was historically associated with vitality and essence in some Taoist practices.

FAQ