====== ěxīn: 恶心 - Nauseous, Disgusting, Vile ======
===== Quick Summary =====
  * **Keywords:** 恶心, ěxīn, exin, nauseous in Chinese, disgusting in Chinese, feeling sick Chinese, vile, gross, what does exin mean, Chinese slang, how to say gross in Chinese.
  * **Summary:** Discover the powerful Chinese word **恶心 (ěxīn)**, a versatile term that bridges the gap between physical sickness and emotional revulsion. Whether you're feeling sick to your stomach from bad food or are utterly disgusted by someone's vile behavior, **ěxīn** is the word you need. This guide breaks down its core meanings, cultural significance, and practical uses, with plenty of examples to help you master this essential HSK 5 term and understand when to use it for physical nausea versus intense moral disgust.
===== Core Meaning =====
  * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** ěxīn
  * **Part of Speech:** Adjective / Verb
  * **HSK Level:** 5
  * **Concise Definition:** To feel physically nauseous; to be emotionally disgusting or repulsed.
  * **In a Nutshell:** **恶心 (ěxīn)** is a visceral word that links a physical sensation (a churning stomach) to a powerful emotional reaction (moral revulsion). Think of the gut-wrenching feeling you get when you have food poisoning—that's **ěxīn**. Now, imagine the feeling you get when you witness a cruel or hypocritical act—that's also **ěxīn**. The word captures the idea that some things are so morally or aesthetically foul that they make you feel physically sick.
===== Character Breakdown =====
  * **恶 (ě):** This character's primary meaning is "evil," "bad," or "vile." It represents something fundamentally wrong or foul.
  * **心 (xīn):** This character means "heart," which in Chinese culture is considered the seat of both thought and emotion.
  * **Combined Meaning:** Together, **恶心 (ěxīn)** literally translates to a "vile heart" or a "bad feeling in the heart/core." This beautifully illustrates the dual meaning: a bad physical feeling in your core (nausea) and the recognition that a person or action is bad at its core (disgusting).
===== Cultural Context and Significance =====
In Chinese, the line between physical sensation and emotional response is often blurred, and **恶心 (ěxīn)** is a prime example. The word implies that moral corruption is a kind of sickness that can be felt physically.
To an English speaker, it's like combining "nauseous" and "disgusting" into a single, more powerful concept. In English, we might say, "His hypocrisy makes me sick," but it often feels like a metaphor. In Chinese, **他很恶心 (tā hěn ěxīn)** feels more direct and literal; his essence is so vile it triggers a physical response of revulsion.
Calling a person **恶心** is a very strong insult in Chinese culture. It's not just saying they are "annoying" ([[讨厌]], tǎoyàn) or that you "dislike" them. It is a direct condemnation of their character, suggesting they are morally rotten, creepy, or fundamentally corrupt. It's an attack on their inner being, their "heart" (心).
===== Practical Usage in Modern China =====
**恶心** is used frequently in daily life in two primary ways:
==== 1. To Describe Physical Nausea ====
This is the literal medical meaning. You can use it when you have motion sickness, morning sickness, food poisoning, or are about to vomit.
  * **Formality:** Neutral
  * **Connotation:** Negative (as sickness is negative)
  * **Example:** After the rollercoaster, I felt really **恶心**.
==== 2. To Express Emotional Disgust or Revulsion ====
This is the more common and powerful usage in social contexts. It can be directed at a person, an object, a situation, or an idea.
  * **Formality:** Informal
  * **Connotation:** Extremely Negative
  * **As an Adjective:** Describing someone as fundamentally gross or vile. (e.g., "That pervert is so **恶心**.")
  * **As a Verb:** To actively disgust someone. (e.g., "Stop it! You're disgusting me! / 你别**恶心**我了!")
===== Example Sentences =====
  * **Example 1:**
    * 我吃了不干净的东西，现在觉得很**恶心**。
    * Pinyin: Wǒ chīle bù gānjìng de dōngxi, xiànzài juéde hěn **ěxīn**.
    * English: I ate something unclean, and now I feel very nauseous.
    * Analysis: This is the most straightforward physical meaning. **觉得 (juéde)**, "to feel," is often paired with **恶心**.
  * **Example 2:**
    * 你能不能别这么说话？真**恶心**！
    * Pinyin: Nǐ néng bu néng bié zhème shuōhuà? Zhēn **ěxīn**!
    * English: Can you please not talk like that? It's really disgusting!
    * Analysis: Here, **恶心** is used as an exclamation to show strong revulsion towards someone's words (perhaps they are being creepy or overly flattering).
  * **Example 3:**
    * 那个男人在地铁上的行为太**恶心**了。
    * Pinyin: Nàge nánrén zài dìtiě shàng de xíngwéi tài **ěxīn** le.
    * English: That man's behavior on the subway was so disgusting.
    * Analysis: This describes disgust towards an action. **太...了 (tài...le)** is a common pattern to add emphasis.
  * **Example 4:**
    * 别**恶心**我了！我不想听你那些虚伪的话。
    * Pinyin: Bié **ěxīn** wǒ le! Wǒ bùxiǎng tīng nǐ nàxiē xūwěi de huà.
    * English: Stop disgusting me! I don't want to listen to your hypocritical words.
    * Analysis: This shows **恶心** used as a verb: "to disgust (someone)." The phrase **别恶心我了 (bié ěxīn wǒ le)** is a very common and forceful way to tell someone to stop.
  * **Example 5:**
    * 坐车坐久了，我有点**恶心**想吐。
    * Pinyin: Zuò chē zuò jiǔ le, wǒ yǒudiǎn **ěxīn** xiǎng tǔ.
    * English: After being in the car for a long time, I feel a bit nauseous and want to vomit.
    * Analysis: This example clearly links **恶心** (the feeling) with **想吐 (xiǎng tǔ)** (the desire to perform the action).
  * **Example 6:**
    * 这部恐怖电影里有很多**恶心**的镜头。
    * Pinyin: Zhè bù kǒngbù diànyǐng lǐ yǒu hěnduō **ěxīn** de jìngtóu.
    * English: This horror movie has a lot of gross scenes.
    * Analysis: Used here as a simple adjective to describe something visually repulsive or gory.
  * **Example 7:**
    * 他这个人两面三刀，一想起来我就觉得**恶心**。
    * Pinyin: Tā zhège rén liǎngmiànsāndāo, yī xiǎng qǐlái wǒ jiù juéde **ěxīn**.
    * English: That guy is so two-faced, I feel disgusted just thinking about it.
    * Analysis: A perfect example of disgust stemming from moral judgment. **两面三刀 (liǎngmiànsāndāo)** is an idiom for being two-faced.
  * **Example 8:**
    * 看到厨房地上爬的蟑螂，她感到一阵**恶心**。
    * Pinyin: Kàndào chúfáng dìshang pá de zhāngláng, tā gǎndào yī zhèn **ěxīn**.
    * English: Seeing the cockroaches crawling on the kitchen floor, she felt a wave of nausea/disgust.
    * Analysis: **一阵 (yī zhèn)** means "a burst of" or "a wave of," effectively describing a sudden feeling of revulsion.
  * **Example 9:**
    * 我不是讨厌他，我是觉得他**恶心**。
    * Pinyin: Wǒ bùshì tǎoyàn tā, wǒ shì juéde tā **ěxīn**.
    * English: It's not that I dislike him, it's that I find him vile.
    * Analysis: This sentence explicitly contrasts **恶心** with the weaker term [[讨厌]] (tǎoyàn - to dislike), highlighting its much greater intensity.
  * **Example 10:**
    * 这种为了钱什么都做的行为，实在是太**恶心**了。
    * Pinyin: Zhè zhǒng wèile qián shénme dōu zuò de xíngwéi, shízài shì tài **ěxīn** le.
    * English: This kind of behavior, doing anything for money, is truly disgusting.
    * Analysis: This shows disgust for a concept or a type of behavior, showing its use for abstract ideas.
===== Nuances and Common Mistakes =====
  * **Mistake 1: Confusing 恶心 (ěxīn) with 难受 (nánshòu).**
    * **难受 (nánshòu)** means "uncomfortable," "unwell," or "sad." It's a very general term. A headache makes you **难受**. A breakup makes you **难受**.
    * **恶心 (ěxīn)** is specific. It's either physical nausea or deep revulsion. You wouldn't say you feel **恶心** because you have a headache.
    * **Incorrect:** 我头疼，很恶心。 (Wǒ tóuténg, hěn ěxīn.) -> //My head hurts, I'm very nauseous.// (Wrong connection)
    * **Correct:** 我头疼，很难受。 (Wǒ tóuténg, hěn nánshòu.) -> //My head hurts, I feel unwell.//
  * **Mistake 2: Underestimating its strength as an insult.**
    * In English, you might say "Ugh, you're annoying." In Chinese, if you say **你真恶心 (Nǐ zhēn ěxīn)**, it's not "you're annoying." It's "you're truly vile/disgusting/a creep." It is a powerful insult that can seriously damage a relationship. Use it with caution when referring to people.
  * **The dual meaning is key:** The most common mistake is failing to grasp that the same word is used for both contexts. A learner might be surprised to hear someone use the "I feel sick" word as a harsh insult. Understanding the "vile heart" etymology helps connect these two powerful meanings.
===== Related Terms and Concepts =====
  * [[想吐]] (xiǎng tǔ) - To feel like vomiting. The direct physical consequence of feeling **恶心**.
  * [[难受]] (nánshòu) - Uncomfortable; sad; unwell. A much broader and less specific term for feeling bad.
  * [[讨厌]] (tǎoyàn) - To dislike; annoying. A far weaker level of negative feeling than **恶心**.
  * [[反感]] (fǎngǎn) - Aversion; antipathy. A more formal and intellectual "disgust" than the visceral feeling of **恶心**.
  * [[变态]] (biàntài) - Perverted; abnormal. Describes a person or behavior that is often considered **恶心**.
  * [[肉麻]] (ròumá) - Cringey; sappy; overly sentimental. Behavior that is **肉麻** can make someone feel **恶心**.
  * [[呕吐]] (ǒutù) - To vomit. The formal, medical term for the action of throwing up, which is caused by feeling **恶心**.
  * [[可恶]] (kěwù) - Hateful; abominable. Describes something that inspires hate, which is a close cousin of the revulsion felt with **恶心**.