(ǒu) — irritated, annoyed (as a bound form, usually in compounds)

Definition

呕 is a bound morpheme used almost only in the reduplicated compound 呕气 (ǒu qì), meaning 'to sulk / be annoyed'. It does not stand alone in modern Mandarin.

bound form
irritatedannoyed (as a bound form, usually in compounds)

Examples

  • Tā yīn wèi zhè jiàn shì zài ǒu qì.
    He is sulking over this matter.
  • Bié ǒu qì le, shì qing yǐ jīng guò qù le.
    Don't be annoyed; the matter has passed.
  • Tā ǒu zhe qì zǒu le.
    She left in a huff.

Origin

Sound + meaning
六书liùshū
形声xíngshēng

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 嘔; 呕 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
kǒumouth
Sound part声符shēngfú
òu
Same sound today

The traditional form 嘔 has 口 (mouth) and 區 as a sound part; this explains 嘔, not the form 呕.

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.