Which one should you use?
While 吐く means to vomit, it is also the standard verb used for spitting something out of one's mouth. If you want to describe the sensation of feeling nauseous or being about to vomit, you can use 吐きそう.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The expression 吐く is a standard term, but there are several alternatives depending on the situation. For a more polite or medical context, use the euphemism 戻す, which literally means 'to return'. In very formal Japanese, the most common and neutral term for 'to vomit' is 嘔吐する. Conversely, if you want to use slang, the colloquial expression ゲロる is used.
How does it change in a sentence?
The past tense of 吐く is 吐いた, meaning 'threw up' or 'vomited'. To express that you feel nauseous or are on the verge of vomiting, you can add そう to the stem of the verb to create 吐きそう.
How do you pronounce it?
haku
When do people say it?
嘔吐感がする is a formal way to express that one feels nauseous or has the sensation of vomiting.
Did you know?
- In Japanese, saying you 'spat out' a word using 吐く (haku) can imply that you said something unpleasant or even cursed.
- The slang term ゲロる (geroru) is derived from the onomatopoeic sound of the liquid itself, mimicking the sound of vomiting.
- The verb 吐く is also used when someone 'spits out' the truth or confesses a secret during an interrogation.
Examples in context
- すみません、嘔吐感がしてしまって、少しトイレに行ってもいいですか？Excuse me, but I'm feeling nauseous. May I go to the restroom for a moment?
- 昨日、彼はゲロっちゃったんだよ！Yesterday, he ended up throwing up!
Example conversation
Hiroto looks pale and unwell at school.
- 大翔 Hiroto大翔、顔色が悪いよ。大丈夫？Hiroto, kaoiro ga warui yo. daijoubu?Hiroto, you look pale. Are you okay?
- 美咲 Misakiうーん、吐きそうなんだ。uun, hakisou nanda.Hmm, I feel like I'm going to throw up.
- 大翔 Hirotoすぐに保健室に行こうか。sugu ni hokenshitsu ni ikou ka.Shall we go to the nurse's office right away?
- 美咲 Misakiお願い。本当に吐くと思う。onegai. hontou ni haku to omou.Please. I think I really will throw up.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 吐く, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
