Chinese word

鼻涕

Pronunciation

Pinyinbí tì

Meaning

  • nounrunny nose

Example

他感冒了，正在流鼻涕。tā gǎn mào le zhèng zài liú bí tì

He has a cold and has a runny nose.

Illustration for 鼻涕 (runny nose)

More examples

他用纸擤鼻涕。tā yòng zhǐ xǐng bí tì

He used a tissue to blow his nose.

Core concept

Fluid or mucus that gathers in the nose and may drip out, especially during a cold or an allergy.

Common phrases

  • 流鼻涕liú bí tì

    have a runny nose

  • 擤鼻涕xǐng bí tì

    blow one's nose

  • 擦鼻涕cā bí tì

    wipe one's nose

Similar words

鼻水bí shuǐ: Clear, watery fluid that runs from the nose.
鼻屎bí shǐ: Mucus that dries into a hard crust inside the nose.
痰tán: Sticky mucus that comes from the throat or airways.
鼻血bí xiě: Blood that flows from the nose when a blood vessel inside it breaks.

Definition in Chinese

从鼻腔流出的水状分泌物，既包括稀薄的水样也包括较浓稠的分泌物，常见于感冒或过敏时。cóng bí qiāng liú chū de shuǐ zhuàng fēn mì wù jì bāo kuò xī bó de shuǐ yàng yě bāo kuò jiào nóng chóu de fēn mì wù cháng jiàn yú gǎn mào huò guò mǐn shí

Word origin

鼻涕 (bítì, "nasal discharge") combines 鼻 (bí, "nose") with 涕 (tì, "tears or nasal fluid"), making the source and substance clear.

Usage tips

  • English often names this as a condition, whereas Chinese can name the fluid itself, so the verb around it shows whether it is flowing or being cleared.

Word lists with this word