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A2 adjective #4,000 most common 11 min read

恶心

ěxīn Top 4,000

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips 恶心 in 30 Seconds

Explanation 恶心 in your Level:

At the A1 level, you should learn '恶心' (ě xīn) primarily as a way to describe feeling physically sick. It is a useful word for basic health needs. You will mostly use it in the simple phrase '我觉得恶心' (I feel nauseous). This is important if you are traveling and feel carsick or if you eat something that doesn't agree with you. At this stage, don't worry about the complex moral meanings; just focus on using it to tell someone you feel like you might throw up. You can combine it with '想吐' (xiǎng tù - want to vomit) to be very clear about how you feel. For example: '我不舒服，我觉得恶心，我想吐。' (I am not comfortable, I feel nauseous, I want to vomit). This simple string of words can be a lifesaver in a medical emergency or during a long bus ride.

At the A2 level, you begin to see '恶心' used as a descriptive adjective for things that are 'gross' or 'disgusting' in a physical sense. You might use it to describe a very dirty place or a bad smell. You should also learn to use intensifiers like '很' (very) or '真' (really) with it. For example, '这里的垃圾真恶心' (The trash here is really disgusting). You are also introduced to the causative '让人' (makes one feel...). For instance, '这个味道让人恶心' (This smell makes one feel sick). At this level, you are expanding from just describing your own feelings to describing the world around you using this word. You should also be able to distinguish it from '难受' (unwell) and '脏' (dirty).

By B1, you should be comfortable using '恶心' to describe social situations and people's behavior. This is where the 'moral disgust' meaning becomes important. You can use it to express your opinion on things you find ethically wrong or repulsive. For example, '他欺骗老人，太恶心了' (He cheats the elderly, that's so disgusting). You should also notice how it appears in media and entertainment. You might hear it in a movie when a character is revolted by another's actions. At this level, you should also understand the resultative construction '恶心坏了' (extremely disgusted). You are starting to use the word to express stronger emotions and more complex opinions about society and interpersonal relationships.

At the B2 level, you should understand the nuances of '恶心' in different registers and dialects. You should be able to use it as a verb in some contexts, such as '你故意恶心我吧？' (Are you intentionally trying to disgust/humiliate me?). You should also be able to compare '恶心' with more formal synonyms like '厌恶' (yàn wù - loathe) or '反感' (fǎn gǎn - dislike/resent). You can use '恶心' in more complex sentence structures, such as '这种行为虽然不违法，但确实让人感到恶心' (This behavior isn't illegal, but it certainly makes one feel disgusted). You are now using the word not just to react, but to analyze and critique behaviors and situations with a higher degree of linguistic sophistication.

At the C1 level, you should be able to use '恶心' and its synonyms to discuss abstract concepts like political corruption, social decay, or philosophical revulsion. You should understand how the word is used in literature and high-level journalism to evoke a visceral reaction in the reader. You will encounter it in idiomatic expressions or in combination with other high-level vocabulary. You should also be aware of the subtle differences between '恶心' and more specific terms like '诟病' (gòu bìng - to denounce/criticize) or '唾弃' (tuò qì - to spurn/cast aside). Your use of '恶心' should be precise, knowing exactly when its colloquial punch is more effective than a more formal term.

At the C2 level, you have a native-like grasp of '恶心.' you understand its historical roots (the combination of 'bad' and 'heart') and how it has evolved over centuries. You can detect irony, sarcasm, or hyperbole when the word is used in sophisticated discourse. You might use it in a creative writing piece to describe a character's internal state of moral crisis. You understand the full range of its emotional palette, from a mild 'ew' to a profound sense of existential dread or total moral condemnation. You can seamlessly switch between its physical, moral, and slang meanings depending on the audience and the purpose of your communication, using it as a sharp tool in your linguistic arsenal.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

恶心 in 30 Seconds

Primarily means 'nauseous' or 'feeling sick' in a physical sense.
Commonly used to describe something 'disgusting' or 'gross' (people, smells, actions).
Essential for medical contexts and describing motion sickness (晕车).
Can be a strong insult when directed at a person's character.

The Chinese word 恶心 (ě xīn) is a versatile term that bridges the gap between physical sensation and moral judgment. At its most basic level, it describes the physical sensation of nausea—that unsettling feeling in your stomach when you feel like you might vomit. However, its usage extends far beyond the doctor's office. In everyday conversation, it is frequently employed to describe a deep sense of revulsion or disgust toward something offensive, whether it be a foul smell, a gruesome sight, or a person's despicable behavior.

Physical Nausea: Used when experiencing motion sickness, food poisoning, or pregnancy-related morning sickness. It literally translates to 'bad heart/mind,' reflecting the internal discomfort one feels.

我坐这种长途大巴总是觉得很恶心。(I always feel nauseous taking these long-distance buses.)

Beyond the physical, '恶心' serves as a powerful adjective for social and moral disapproval. When someone says '这件事真恶心' (This matter is truly disgusting), they are likely not talking about a stomach ache, but rather a situation that is ethically repulsive or socially unacceptable. It is a common reaction to corruption, betrayal, or extreme selfishness. In this context, the word carries a heavy emotional weight, signaling that the speaker finds the situation so 'foul' that it triggers a metaphorical gag reflex.

Metaphorical Disgust: Used to describe things that are 'gross' or 'revolting' in a non-physical sense, such as seeing someone lick a public handrail or hearing about a scammer targeting the elderly.

那个人的行为太恶心了，我不想再见到他。(That person's behavior is so disgusting; I don't want to see him again.)

In terms of register, '恶心' is highly informal and colloquial. You will hear it in casual conversations among friends, in TV dramas, and on social media. While it is not a 'curse word' in the traditional sense, its intensity makes it unsuitable for formal business reports or polite introductions. It is a raw expression of visceral reaction. Understanding the nuance between the physical 'I feel sick' and the emotional 'That's gross' is key to mastering its use. Interestingly, the pronunciation changes slightly in some dialects, but in Standard Mandarin, the third tone on '恶' (ě) and the first tone on '心' (xīn) is the standard for the adjective form. If you use it as a verb meaning 'to disgust someone' (e.g., 你存心恶心我吗？), the tones remain the same but the grammatical function shifts.

Food Context: If you eat something that is rotten or has a strange texture, you might say '这味道真恶心' (This taste is really gross).

这碗汤里有一只苍蝇，真恶心！(There is a fly in this soup, so disgusting!)

To use 恶心 (ě xīn) correctly, you must distinguish between the subjective feeling and the objective quality. When describing your own physical state, you almost always use the verb '觉得' (jué de - to feel) or '感到' (gǎn dào - to feel). This indicates an internal sensation. For example, '我觉得恶心' is the standard way to say 'I feel nauseous.' You wouldn't typically say '我是恶心' unless you were calling yourself a disgusting person, which is a very different meaning!

Subjective Feeling: Structure: [Subject] + 觉得/感到 + 恶心. Used for motion sickness, illness, or reacting to a bad smell.

闻到油烟味我就觉得恶心。(I feel nauseous whenever I smell cooking fumes.)

When describing an external object, person, or situation that causes disgust, '恶心' functions as a predicative adjective. You often use intensifiers like '真' (zhēn - really), '太' (tài - too/so), or '很' (hěn - very). The structure is usually [Noun/Situation] + [Intensifier] + 恶心. This is how you comment on a dirty bathroom, a bug in your food, or a politician's lies. It is direct and punchy. For instance, '这种做法太恶心了' (This way of doing things is too disgusting) is a common way to express outrage at an unfair practice.

Objective Quality: Structure: [Noun] + 很/真/太 + 恶心. Used to describe something that is inherently gross or repulsive.

墙角那些垃圾真恶心。(That trash in the corner is really disgusting.)

Another common pattern is the causative use: '让人恶心' (makes people feel nauseous/disgusted). This is used when a situation is so bad it affects anyone who witnesses it. It’s slightly more formal than just saying something 'is' disgusting because it focuses on the effect on the observer. For example, '他的谎言真让人恶心' (His lies really make one feel sick). This pattern is very common in news commentary or when discussing social issues. Furthermore, you can use '恶心' to describe a specific type of person: '恶心的人' (a disgusting person). However, be aware that this is a very strong personal attack and can lead to significant conflict.

Causative Pattern: Structure: [Subject] + 让人 + 恶心. Used to emphasize the effect of a disgusting thing on the speaker or people in general.

这种自私的行为真让人恶心。(This kind of selfish behavior really makes people feel disgusted.)

You will encounter 恶心 (ě xīn) in a wide variety of real-life scenarios in China. One of the most common places is in a medical or wellness context. If you visit a Chinese hospital (医院) or pharmacy (药店), you might hear patients describing their symptoms. A person with food poisoning or the flu will likely say, '医生，我胃口不好，还总觉得恶心' (Doctor, I have no appetite and I always feel nauseous). It is a standard medical term for nausea that every learner should know for basic health communication.

Medical Context: Used to describe the urge to vomit. Essential for explaining symptoms to a doctor or describing morning sickness during pregnancy.

她怀孕三个月了，早晨经常感到恶心。(She is three months pregnant and often feels nauseous in the morning.)

Another frequent setting is in transportation. China's vast network of buses and winding mountain roads means '晕车' (yūn chē - motion sickness) is a common topic. Travelers often say '我晕车，想恶心' (I'm carsick, I feel like I'm going to throw up). If you are traveling with Chinese friends and the road gets bumpy, this is the word you'll use to warn them you might need a break. Similarly, on a boat or plane, '恶心' is the go-to word for that 'seasick' or 'airsick' feeling. It's a practical word for anyone navigating the logistics of travel in China.

Transportation: Used when dealing with motion sickness (晕车, 晕船, 晕机). It describes the physical reaction to the movement.

这船晃得厉害，我有点儿恶心。(This boat is rocking badly; I feel a bit nauseous.)

In the digital world, '恶心' is a staple of social media commentary. On platforms like Weibo or Douyin, users use it to react to viral videos of people behaving badly—like someone cutting a line, being rude to service staff, or a celebrity scandal. You'll see comments like '被恶心到了' (I was disgusted by this). It acts as a visceral 'dislike' button. In the gaming community, it can also refer to a 'cheap' or 'annoying' strategy used by an opponent that is frustrating to play against. For example, '这个英雄的技能太恶心了' (This hero's skills are so annoying/gross). This demonstrates how the word has evolved into a modern slang term for anything that causes a strong negative reaction.

Social Media & Gaming: Used to react to offensive content or frustrating game mechanics. It expresses a mix of annoyance and revulsion.

看到这种新闻，真是被恶心到了。(Seeing this kind of news, I'm truly disgusted.)

One of the most frequent mistakes English speakers make with 恶心 (ě xīn) is confusing it with the literal act of vomiting. While '恶心' means 'nauseous' (the feeling), it does not mean 'to vomit' (the action). The Chinese word for 'to vomit' is '呕吐' (ǒu tù) or colloquially '吐' (tù). If you tell a doctor '我恶心了' (I nauseous-ed), it sounds awkward. You should say '我想吐' (I want to vomit) or '我吐了' (I vomited). Remember: '恶心' is the feeling before the action, or the quality of being disgusting.

Mistake: Confusing Nausea with Vomiting: Do not use '恶心' as a verb for the physical act of throwing up. Use '吐' instead.

❌ 我刚才在厕所恶心了。
✅ 我刚才在厕所吐了。(I just vomited in the bathroom.)

Another mistake is overusing '恶心' for mild discomfort. If you just have a slight stomach ache or feel 'off,' '恶心' might be too strong. In those cases, '不舒服' (bù shū fu - uncomfortable) or '难受' (nán shòu - hard to bear/unwell) is more appropriate. '恶心' specifically implies that 'gagging' sensation. If you tell someone '我有点恶心' because you have a headache, they will be confused and might think you're about to throw up on them! Use '难受' for general malaise and reserve '恶心' for stomach-specific nausea or moral disgust.

Mistake: Using it for General Unwellness: Avoid using '恶心' for headaches, fatigue, or general pain. It is specific to nausea.

❌ 我的头很恶心。
✅ 我的头很痛，身体很难受。(My head hurts and I feel very unwell.)

A third common error involves the 'moral' usage. English speakers sometimes use 'gross' or 'disgusting' to mean 'bad' or 'unpleasant.' In Chinese, '恶心' is quite intense. If a movie is just 'bad' (poor acting, boring plot), you wouldn't say it is '恶心.' You would say '不好看' (bù hǎo kàn) or '差劲' (chà jìn). Calling a movie '恶心' implies it has gore, extreme violence, or morally bankrupt themes that made you physically uncomfortable. Be careful not to use it for things that are merely low quality. Finally, pay attention to the tones. '恶' has multiple pronunciations (è, ě, wù). For 'nauseous/disgusting,' it must be the third tone (ě). Using the wrong tone can lead to confusion with 'evil' (è) or 'to hate' (wù).

Mistake: Over-application to Low Quality: Don't use '恶心' for a boring book or a bad song. Use it only when there is a sense of physical or moral revulsion.

❌ 这首歌太恶心了。(Unless the lyrics are truly repulsive).
✅ 这首歌太难听了。(This song sounds terrible.)

Understanding the synonyms and related terms for 恶心 (ě xīn) helps you choose the right word for the right intensity and context. While '恶心' is the most common word for nausea, there are other terms you should know to sound more like a native speaker.

恶心 vs. 难受 (nán shòu): '难受' is a general term for feeling 'uncomfortable' or 'unwell.' It can be physical (pain, fever) or emotional (sadness). '恶心' is specific to the urge to vomit. If you have a stomach ache, you are '难受'; if you want to throw up, you are '恶心.'

恶心 vs. 讨厌 (tǎo yàn): '讨厌' means 'to dislike' or 'annoying.' It is much milder than '恶心.' You might '讨厌' a noisy neighbor, but you find a person who kicks puppies '恶心.' Use '讨厌' for everyday annoyances and '恶心' for things that truly disgust you.

我不喜欢他，他很讨厌。(I don't like him; he's annoying.) vs. 他做的那些事真恶心。(The things he did are truly disgusting.)

In more formal or literary contexts, you might encounter other terms. '厌恶' (yàn wù) is a more formal verb for 'to loathe' or 'to detest.' It is often used in writing to describe a deep-seated psychological disgust. '反胃' (fǎn wèi) is a more technical medical term for 'nausea' or 'gastric reflux,' literally meaning 'stomach turning back.' You might see '反胃' on a medicine bottle or in a medical report. For extremely strong disgust, the word '令人发指' (lìng rén fà zhǐ) is an idiom meaning 'to make one's hair stand on end with anger/disgust,' used for heinous crimes.

恶心 vs. 脏 (zāng): '脏' simply means 'dirty.' Something can be '脏' (like dusty shoes) without being '恶心.' However, if something is so '脏' that it makes you feel sick (like a rotting pile of food), it becomes '恶心.'

他的衣服很脏。(His clothes are dirty.) vs. 这里的厕所太恶心了。(The toilet here is too disgusting.)

Finally, when talking about food, you might use '腻' (nì). If a dish is too oily or sweet, it can make you feel '腻,' which is a specific type of 'food-induced' mild nausea or cloying sensation. '恶心' is much stronger and usually implies the food is spoiled or inherently repulsive. Knowing these distinctions will help you describe your physical and emotional reactions with much greater precision in Chinese.

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

The character '恶' is one of the most versatile in Chinese, having different tones for 'bad' (è), 'nauseous' (ě), and 'to hate' (wù). It's a 'polyphone' (多音字).

Pronunciation Guide

UK /ě xīn/

US /ě xīn/

Equal stress on both syllables in Mandarin.

Rhymes With

斤 (jīn) 金 (jīn) 今 (jīn) 亲 (qīn) 新 (xīn) 欣 (xīn) 音 (yīn) 因 (yīn)

Common Errors

Using the 4th tone 'è' (evil) instead of the 3rd tone 'ě' (nauseous).
Pronouncing '心' with a neutral tone in certain contexts where it should be 1st tone.
Confusing the pronunciation with 'wù' (to hate).
Over-nasalizing the 'in' sound in 'xin'.
Failing to dip low enough on the 3rd tone 'ě'.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 2/5

The characters are relatively common, but '恶' has multiple pronunciations.

Writing 3/5

The character '恶' is somewhat complex to write correctly.

Speaking 2/5

Easy to say, but tone accuracy is important.

Listening 2/5

Distinct sound, but must be distinguished from 'è' (evil).

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

心不好觉得想脏

Learn Next

呕吐难受讨厌反胃晕车

Advanced

厌恶诟病唾弃卑鄙令人发指

Grammar to Know

Stative Verbs as Adjectives

他很恶心。 (He is disgusting.)

Causative '让人'

这件事让人恶心。 (This matter makes people feel disgusted.)

Resultative Complements

恶心得想吐。 (So nauseous that one wants to vomit.)

Passive '被'

我被他恶心到了。 (I was disgusted by him.)

Intensifiers

真恶心 / 太恶心了 / 恶心极了。

Examples by Level

我觉得恶心。

I feel nauseous.

Subject + 觉得 + 恶心 (Adjective)

我不舒服，有点恶心。

I'm not feeling well, a bit nauseous.

Use '有点' for 'a bit'.

我想吐，很恶心。

I want to vomit, very nauseous.

Combining '想吐' with '恶心'.

你恶心吗？

Do you feel nauseous?

Simple question structure.

吃了那个，我恶心。

After eating that, I feel nauseous.

Temporal clause followed by feeling.

坐车很恶心。

Riding in a car is nauseating.

Describing an activity.

这个味道恶心。

This smell is nauseating.

Subject (smell) + Adjective.

医生，我恶心。

Doctor, I feel nauseous.

Describing a symptom.

这里的垃圾真恶心。

The trash here is really disgusting.

Using '真' as an intensifier.

那只死老鼠太恶心了。

That dead mouse is too disgusting.

Using '太...了' for emphasis.

这碗汤让人恶心。

This bowl of soup is nauseating.

Causative '让人' (makes people...).

别说了，真恶心。

Stop talking, it's really gross.

Reacting to a gross story.

他的手很脏，很恶心。

His hands are very dirty and disgusting.

Linking '脏' and '恶心'.

我觉得那个电影很恶心。

I thought that movie was disgusting.

Expressing an opinion on media.

这种食物的味道很恶心。

The taste of this food is very disgusting.

Describing a sensory experience.

厕所里很恶心。

It's disgusting in the toilet.

Describing a place.

他的行为真让人恶心。

His behavior is truly disgusting.

Moral disgust usage.

我被那个故事恶心到了。

I was disgusted by that story.

Passive '被...恶心到了'.

这种自私的人真恶心。

This kind of selfish person is really disgusting.

Criticizing character.

看到他撒谎，我觉得很恶心。

Seeing him lie makes me feel disgusted.

Reaction to an action.

别在这儿恶心人！

Don't be disgusting here!

Imperative use as a verb.

那个骗子的手段太恶心了。

That scammer's methods are too disgusting.

Describing a method or tactic.

这种不公平的事情让人恶心。

This kind of unfairness is disgusting.

Abstract moral disgust.

我一想起那件事就恶心。

I feel disgusted as soon as I think of that matter.

一...就... structure.

他为了钱出卖朋友，真是恶心透了。

He betrayed his friend for money; he's truly disgusting to the core.

Using '透了' for 'completely/to the core'.

这种职场霸凌行为真让人恶心。

This kind of workplace bullying is truly disgusting.

Specific social context (workplace).

你这么做不是在恶心我吗？

Aren't you doing this just to disgust/annoy me?

Rhetorical question using '恶心' as a verb.

那种虚伪的笑容让我感到恶心。

That hypocritical smile makes me feel disgusted.

Focus on abstract qualities like hypocrisy.

看到网络暴力，我感到深深的恶心。

Seeing cyberbullying, I feel a deep sense of disgust.

Expressing deep emotional reaction.

这种垃圾食品的味道太重，吃多了恶心。

This junk food has too strong a taste; eating too much makes you nauseous.

Physical reaction to overeating.

他总是说些恶心的话来博取关注。

He always says disgusting things to get attention.

Describing speech.

这种贪污腐败的现象真让人恶心。

This phenomenon of corruption is truly disgusting.

Political/Social critique.

这种毫无底线的炒作简直让人恶心。

This bottomless hype is simply disgusting.

Using '毫无底线' (no bottom line/no limits).

他那种阿谀奉承的样子真叫人恶心。

His sycophantic manner is truly disgusting.

Using the idiom '阿谀奉承'.

面对这种不公，除了恶心，我更多的是愤怒。

Facing this injustice, besides disgust, I feel mostly anger.

Complex emotional contrast.

这种为了利益不择手段的行为，实在令人恶心。

This behavior of using any means necessary for profit is truly disgusting.

Using '令人' (formal causative).

他那番道貌岸然的话，听着就让人恶心。

His sanctimonious words are disgusting to hear.

Using the idiom '道貌岸然'.

这篇报道充满了偏见，真恶心。

This report is full of bias; it's disgusting.

Critiquing media integrity.

这种对生命的漠视简直到了恶心的程度。

This disregard for life has reached a disgusting level.

Describing a degree of intensity.

我不屑于与这种恶心的小人为伍。

I disdain associating with such a disgusting, petty person.

Using '不屑于' (disdain) and '小人' (petty person).

这种权力寻租的勾当，透着一股令人恶心的腐臭味。

This business of rent-seeking reeks of a disgusting stench of corruption.

Metaphorical use of 'stench' and 'corruption'.

在这个物欲横流的时代，这种纯粹的恶意更显恶心。

In this era of rampant materialism, such pure malice appears even more disgusting.

Philosophical context.

他那副小人得志的嘴脸，实在让人恶心至极。

That face of a petty man meeting with success is truly disgusting to the extreme.

Using '至极' (to the extreme).

这种对历史的肆意歪曲，读来令人倍感恶心。

This wanton distortion of history feels doubly disgusting when read.

Focus on intellectual/historical integrity.

人性中那点阴暗面，有时真让人恶心到想逃离这个世界。

That dark side of human nature sometimes makes one so disgusted they want to flee the world.

Deep existential reflection.

他试图用廉价的同情心来掩盖其恶心的本质。

He tries to use cheap sympathy to cover up his disgusting essence.

Complex character analysis.

这种充斥着低级趣味的节目，除了恶心别无他物。

This show, full of low-brow tastes, is nothing but disgusting.

Using '别无他物' (nothing else).

社会的某些潜规则，虽然大家心照不宣，但确实恶心。

Certain unspoken rules of society, though tacitly understood by all, are indeed disgusting.

Sociological commentary.

Common Collocations

感到恶心

真恶心

让人恶心

觉得恶心

恶心想吐

被恶心到

恶心的味道

恶心透了

有点儿恶心

恶心的行为

Common Phrases

恶心人

— To disgust someone or to be a disgusting person.

你别在这儿恶心人了。

反胃恶心

— Nauseous and feeling like the stomach is turning.

喝完酒后他感到反胃恶心。

恶心坏了

— Extremely disgusted.

那个镜头把我恶心坏了。

晕车恶心

— Nausea caused by motion sickness.

他每次坐长途车都会晕车恶心。

恶心至极

— Disgusting to the extreme.

这种谎言简直恶心至极。

感到一阵恶心

— To feel a sudden wave of nausea.

闻到那股烟味，她感到一阵恶心。

被恶心坏了

— To be thoroughly disgusted by something.

我被那个消息恶心坏了。

真够恶心的

— Quite disgusting (often used sarcastically).

这种做法真够恶心的。

恶心吧啦

— Very gross (informal/dialectal).

那东西看着恶心吧啦的。

存心恶心人

— Intentionally trying to disgust or annoy someone.

他这么做就是存心恶心人。

Often Confused With

恶心 vs 呕吐

呕吐 is the act of throwing up; 恶心 is the feeling of nausea.

恶心 vs 难受

难受 is general discomfort; 恶心 is specific to nausea/disgust.

恶心 vs 坏

坏 means bad/broken; 恶心 means disgusting.

Idioms & Expressions

"令人发指"

— To make one's hair stand on end with anger/disgust.

他的罪行令人发指。

Formal

"卑鄙无耻"

— Despicable and shameless.

他是个卑鄙无耻的骗子。

Formal

"道貌岸然"

— Sanctimonious; hypocritically moral.

他表面上道貌岸然，其实很恶心。

Literary

"臭名昭著"

— Notorious; having a disgusting reputation.

那是个臭名昭著的罪犯。

Formal

"惨不忍睹"

— Too horrible to look at.

车祸现场惨不忍睹。

Neutral

"狼狈为奸"

— To act in cahoots for evil purposes.

他们两人狼狈为奸，真恶心。

Formal

"厚颜无耻"

— Brazen and shameless.

他竟然还有脸回来，真是厚颜无耻。

Formal

"人面兽心"

— Human face but a beast's heart (a monster).

他那个人简直是人面兽心。

Literary

"唾弃"

— To cast aside with contempt/disgust.

这种行为被世人所唾弃。

Formal

"自作自受"

— To suffer the consequences of one's own disgusting actions.

他被抓是自作自受。

Neutral

Easily Confused

恶心 vs 呕吐

Both relate to being sick.

恶心 is the adjective/feeling (nauseous); 呕吐 is the verb (to vomit).

我感到恶心，但我没呕吐。

恶心 vs 厌恶

Both mean disgust.

恶心 is colloquial and can be physical; 厌恶 is formal and purely psychological.

我对这种谎言深感厌恶。

恶心 vs 讨厌

Both express negative feelings.

讨厌 means 'dislike/annoying'; 恶心 is much stronger 'disgusting'.

我讨厌下雨，但我恶心虫子。

恶心 vs 反感

Both relate to aversion.

反感 is a mild resentment or dislike; 恶心 is a visceral revulsion.

我对他的建议很反感。

恶心 vs 难受

Both describe feeling bad.

难受 covers all pain/sadness; 恶心 is stomach-specific or moral disgust.

头痛让我很难受，但我并不恶心。

Sentence Patterns

我 + 觉得 + 恶心。

我觉得恶心。

[Noun] + 很 + 恶心。

垃圾很恶心。

让人 + 恶心。

这味道让人恶心。

被 + [Noun] + 恶心到了。

我被那个人恶心到了。

一...就 + 恶心。

我一坐车就恶心。

恶心 + 透了。

他真是恶心透了。

令人 + 感到 + 深深的 + 恶心。

这种行为令人感到深深的恶心。

除了 + 恶心 + 别无他物。

这节目除了恶心别无他物。

Word Family

Nouns

恶心感 (ě xīn gǎn) - feeling of nausea

厌恶感 (yàn wù gǎn) - feeling of disgust

Verbs

恶心 (ě xīn) - to disgust/humiliate (colloquial)

厌恶 (yàn wù) - to loathe

呕吐 (ǒu tù) - to vomit

Adjectives

恶心的 (ě xīn de) - disgusting

令人恶心的 (lìng rén ě xīn de) - nauseating

呕吐

难受

晕车

讨厌

反胃

How to Use It

frequency

Extremely high in daily spoken Chinese and social media.

Common Mistakes

Using '恶心' as a verb for vomiting. → 吐 (tù)
恶心 is the feeling; 吐 is the action. Don't say '我恶心了' to mean 'I threw up'.
Using 4th tone 'è' instead of 3rd tone 'ě'. → ě xīn
è xīn sounds like 'evil heart'. ě xīn is 'nauseous'.
Using it for a boring or low-quality item. → 不好 (bù hǎo) / 差 (chà)
恶心 implies revulsion, not just poor quality.
Saying '我是恶心' to mean 'I feel sick'. → 我觉得恶心
'我是恶心' sounds like 'I am disgusting'.
Using it for general pain (e.g., headache). → 痛 (tòng) / 难受 (nán shòu)
恶心 is specific to the stomach/urge to vomit.

Tips

Using with '觉得'

Always use '觉得' or '感到' when describing your own physical nausea. '我恶心' can be misinterpreted as 'I am a disgusting person'.

Social Shaming

On the Chinese internet, '恶心' is a powerful tool for moral condemnation. Use it to express outrage at social injustices.

Tone Accuracy

Practice the dipping 3rd tone of 'ě'. If you say 'è xīn' (4th tone), it sounds like 'vicious heart', which is even stronger!

Pairing with 脏

If something is dirty and gross, use '又脏又恶心' (both dirty and disgusting) for maximum effect.

Medical Use

In a medical context, '恶心' is the standard term. Don't be afraid to use it with your doctor.

Travel Use

Keep this word in your 'travel toolkit' for describing carsickness or seasickness.

Internet Slang

'被恶心到了' is very common on Weibo. It's like saying 'That grossed me out'.

Personal Insults

Calling a person '恶心' is a major insult. Only use it if you are prepared for a conflict.

Milder Option

If you just dislike something a little, use '讨厌' (tǎo yàn) instead.

Formal Writing

In essays, replace '恶心' with '令人厌恶' (lìng rén yàn wù) for a more academic tone.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'ě' sounding like the sound someone makes when they are about to gag ('Ehhh...'). 'Xin' is your heart/stomach. So 'Ehhh... in my heart/stomach' is '恶心'!

Visual Association

Imagine an 'Evil' (è) green monster sitting on your 'Heart' (xīn), making you feel sick.

Word Web

晕车想吐垃圾自私骗子难受反胃苍蝇

Challenge

Try to use '恶心' in three different ways today: once for a physical feeling, once for a bad smell, and once for a news story you dislike.

Word Origin

The word '恶心' is composed of '恶' (ě/è/wù) and '心' (xīn). '恶' originally meant bad, evil, or ugly. '心' means heart or mind. Together, they literally mean 'bad heart' or 'disordered mind/spirit.'

Original meaning: Originally, it referred to a state of internal discomfort or bad intent, which evolved into the physical sensation of nausea.

Sino-Tibetan (Chinese)

Cultural Context

Be careful when using this word about people; it is a strong insult. Avoid using it in formal settings unless describing a physical symptom to a doctor.

English speakers use 'sick' for both illness and 'cool' (slang), but '恶心' is never used for 'cool.' English 'gross' is a good equivalent for the descriptive '恶心.'

Commonly heard in Chinese medical dramas during pregnancy reveals. Used frequently in variety shows when guests have to eat 'weird' foods. A staple word in online 'outrage' culture on platforms like Weibo.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

At the Hospital

我觉得恶心
想吐
胃不舒服
恶心了多久？

In a Car/Bus

我晕车了
有点恶心
我想下车
有没有塑料袋？

At a Restaurant

这菜里有虫子
真恶心
我不吃了
味道不对

Discussing News

这种事太恶心了
没底线
真让人恶心
怎么能这样？

Pregnancy

早起恶心
晨吐
怀孕反应
闻不了油烟味

Conversation Starters

"你坐长途车会觉得恶心吗？ (Do you feel nauseous on long-distance buses?)"

"你见过最恶心的事情是什么？ (What is the most disgusting thing you've ever seen?)"

"你觉得哪种食物的味道最恶心？ (Which food's smell do you find most disgusting?)"

"如果有人在公共场合吐痰，你会觉得恶心吗？ (Do you find it disgusting if someone spits in public?)"

"你觉得这个电影的那个镜头恶心吗？ (Did you find that scene in the movie disgusting?)"

Journal Prompts

描述一次你感到恶心的经历，是因为生病还是因为看到了什么？ (Describe a time you felt nauseous; was it because of illness or something you saw?)

谈谈你对社会上某些‘恶心’现象的看法。 (Talk about your views on certain 'disgusting' phenomena in society.)

如果你在饭馆里发现菜很恶心，你会怎么做？ (If you found the food in a restaurant disgusting, what would you do?)

为什么有些行为会被人称为‘恶心’？ (Why are some behaviors called 'disgusting'?)

写一段话描述一个让你感到恶心的环境。 (Write a paragraph describing an environment that makes you feel disgusted.)

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

No, 恶心 always has a negative connotation in Chinese. It never means 'cool' or 'awesome'.

恶心 is the feeling of nausea. 想吐 literally means 'want to vomit'. They are often used together.

No, it is not a swear word, but it is a very strong and rude insult if used against a person.

You can say '晕车恶心' (yūn chē ě xīn) or '坐车觉得恶心'.

Only if the movie is truly repulsive or morally disgusting. If it's just boring, use '不好看' or '无聊'.

Yes, '恶' can be è, ě, or wù. For 'nauseous/disgusting,' it must be ě (3rd tone).

Say '医生，我觉得恶心' (Doctor, I feel nauseous).

It is a modern slang expression meaning 'I was thoroughly disgusted by that' (usually by a story or behavior).

Generally, no. It is too colloquial and emotional. Use '不妥' (inappropriate) or '反感' instead.

Yes, it is very common for foul smells: '这个味道真恶心'.