Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 哎呀 | āiyā | |
| 惡心 / 恶心 | ěxin | |
| 啐 | cuì | |
| 哎 | āi | |
| 噫 | yī | |
| 呸 | pēi | offensive, strong |
While many forms can express a sense of disgust, the expression of "ugh" in Chinese can vary from general frustration to physical nausea. For example, the interjection 哎呀 is a versatile term used for various reactions like surprise, frustration or dismay. If you are feeling frustrated or depressed, you might use the informal phrase 郁闷 (yù mèn). To express that something is annoying or troublesome, you can use the informal word 烦 (fán). Additionally, the informal exclamation 啊 (ā) can be used to express a range of emotions, including frustration or annoyance.
What does it mean word for word?
The term 恶心 (ěxin) literally breaks down into 恶 (evil/bad) and 心 (heart/mind), though in modern usage it refers to the sensation of nausea or disgust.
Which one should you use?
The forms differ based on the specific type of reaction. 哎呀 is a versatile interjection used for many reactions, whereas 恶心 specifically describes the feeling of being disgusted or nauseated. The term 呸 is a strong interjection that mimics the sound of spitting to express intense contempt or disgust.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The term 呸 is considered offensive and is a strong, often rude way to express oneself. In contrast, words like 烦 and 郁闷 are used in informal settings to convey frustration.
How do you pronounce it?
āiyā
Did you know?
- In some contexts, 哎呀 can be used as a flirtatious or playful 'ugh' when someone is being teased, shifting the meaning from genuine frustration to affection.
- While 恶心 (ěxin) means 'disgusting' or 'nauseating', the character for 'evil' is actually written as 噁 when specifically referring to the medical sensation of nausea.
- The word 恶心 can be used as an adjective to describe a person's character, meaning they are 'creepy' or 'disgusting' in a moral sense rather than just causing nausea.
Examples in context
- 啊，这个电影太烦人了！Ugh, this movie is so annoying!
- 哎呀，太恶心了。Āiyā, tài ěxin le.Ugh, that's so disgusting.
Example conversation
Zihan and Haoran are looking at some old, moldy food in the fridge.
- 梓涵 Zihan哎呀，你看这个面包！āiyā, nǐ kàn zhège miànbāo!Ugh, look at this bread!
- 浩然 Haoran天哪，全是绿色的。tiān na, quánshì lǜsè de.Oh my god, it's all green.
- 梓涵 Zihan太恶心了，快把它扔掉。tài ěxīn le, kuài bǎ tā rēngdiào.That's so gross, throw it away quickly.
- 浩然 Haoran好的，我现在就扔。hǎo de, wǒ xiànzài jiù rēng.Okay, I'll throw it out right now.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “ugh” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 呸, 惡心, CC BY-SA 4.0.
