How to say "vomit" in Japanese

Choosing the right word
  • 吐くはくJLPT N3approx.Common
    godan verb, transitive verbThe broad, neutral verb for the act itself: to vomit or throw up, and also to spit up, as when a baby brings up milk. The natural choice when no special nuance is needed.
  • 吐き出すはきだすCommon
    godan verb, transitive verbEmphasizes expelling the contents out through the mouth: to vomit something up, or to spit something out. It suits contexts focused on the forceful expulsion of what is inside.
    つばを吐き出はきだしてください。↗
    Please spit.
  • 戻すもどすJLPT N3approx.Common
    godan verb, transitive verbLiterally 'to put back': for vomiting it pictures what one ate coming back up. On its own it usually reads as 'put back', so the vomiting sense relies on context.

「吐く」 is the all-purpose verb for vomiting; 「吐き出す」 stresses forcefully expelling the contents; 「戻す」 pictures what was swallowed coming back up and, without that context, reads as 'put back' instead.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

Japanese equivalents

JLPT vocabulary levels are community estimates, not official (no official lists have been published since the 2010 revision).

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