唾

tuò

口 + 垂

Definitions

tuò (verb) to spit

tuò (noun) saliva

Etymology

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

Semantic: 口 Phonetic: 垂

About

唾 is a phono-semantic compound: the mouth radical 口 on the left indicates the meaning relates to the oral cavity, while 垂 on the right supplies the sound. Its original and primary meaning is "saliva" or "spit", the natural fluid produced in the mouth. Because spitting on someone or something is a strong universal gesture of disrespect, the character extends into compound words that express deep contempt, disdain, or the rejection of something as worthless and objectionable.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

唾液有助于消化食物。

Tuòyè yǒu zhù yú xiāohuà shíwù.

Saliva helps digest food.

他说话时唾沫横飞。

Tā shuōhuà shí tuòmo héng fēi.

When he speaks, saliva flies everywhere.

人们唾弃这种卑鄙行为。

Rénmen tuòqì zhè zhǒng bēibǐ xíngwéi.

People despise this despicable behavior.

医生检查了他的唾液样本。

Yīshēng jiǎnchá le tā de tuòyè yàngběn.

The doctor examined his saliva sample.

他因背叛朋友而被唾骂。

Tā yīn bèipàn péngyǒu ér bèi tuòmà.

He was reviled for betraying his friends.

唾液的分泌受到神经控制。

Tuòyè de fēnmì shòu dào shénjīng kòngzhì.

The secretion of saliva is controlled by nerves.

历史将唾弃那些战争罪犯。

Lìshǐ jiāng tuòqì nàxiē zhànzhēng zuìfàn.

History will despise those war criminals.

尽管他被众人唾弃，却依然坚持自己的信念。

Jǐnguǎn tā bèi zhòngrén tuòqì, què yīrán jiānchí zìjǐ de xìnniàn.

Although he was despised by everyone, he still adhered to his beliefs.

Related Characters

Component: 口

Component: 垂

唾