Chinese word

出气

Pronunciation

Pinyinchū qì

Meaning

  • verbtake one's anger out on

Example

别向孩子出气，他们不懂事。bié xiàng hái zi chū qì tā men bù dǒng shì

Don't take your anger out on the children; they don't know any better.

Illustration for 出气 (take one's anger out on)

More examples

他生气时会拿枕头出气。tā shēng qì shí huì ná zhěn tou chū qì

When he gets angry, he takes his anger out on a pillow.

Core concept

Pent-up anger gets pushed outward, often onto a person or thing that did not cause it.

Common phrases

  • 借酒出气jiè jiǔ chū qì

    vent one's anger by drinking

  • 对着枕头出气duì zhe zhěn tou chū qì

    take one's anger out on a pillow

  • 找人出气zhǎo rén chū qì

    take one's anger out on someone

Similar words

撒气sā qì: Vent built-up anger on a person or thing to feel better for the moment.
发泄fā xiè: Let out dissatisfaction or stress through words or actions to ease the feeling.
发脾气fā pí qì: Show a short, strong burst of anger to people nearby.
生气shēng qì: Feel angry or upset because of dissatisfaction or another annoyance.

Definition in Chinese

把积压在心里的气向外发泄，常对无关的人或事表示怒气或责备。bǎ jī yā zài xīn lǐ de qì xiàng wài fā xiè cháng duì wú guān de rén huò shì biǎo shì nù qì huò zé bèi

Word origin

出 (chū, "go out") + 气 (qì, "air or emotional energy") makes anger seem like pressure being released outward.

Usage tips

  • In conversation, the expression often highlights an unfair target, so it is more specific than simply showing anger.

Other meanings

  • vent one's angerverb

Opposites

Related words

  • 出气筒chū qì tǒngoutlet for angernoun

Word lists with this word