ouch

/aʊtʃ/ (bre, ipa) · [ˈaʊtʃ] /aʊtʃ/ (ame, ipa) · [ˈaʊtʃ] /ˈau̇ch/ (ame, mw)

ouch — exclamation

1. said immediately when something suddenly causes physical pain.

1.感嘆詞A1
釋義

said immediately when something suddenly causes physical pain.

例句

Ouch, I shut my finger in the car door.

Ouch, + clause after sudden pain

The little boy whispered, "Ouch," when the nurse cleaned his scraped knee.

quoted reaction during treatment

同義詞
  • ow

    even shorter and sharper for a quick pain reaction

  • oof

    often mixes pain with shock from a hit or hard landing

  • yikes

    shows alarm more than physical pain

文法句型

Ouch! + short reaction after pain

Ouch, + comment about what hurts

用法筆記

Usually said alone or before a very short comment such as 'ouch, my hand'. For continuing pain, speakers normally switch to verbs like 'hurt' or 'ache' instead of repeating 'ouch'.

常見錯誤

❌My arm is ouch after the fall.
✅My arm hurts after the fall.
💡use 'ouch' as a spoken reaction, not as an adjective.
❌I ouched when I touched the pan.
✅I said "ouch" when I touched the pan.
💡in this core use, 'ouch' is the cry itself.

2. said after an unkind remark or joke when it feels emotionally painful.

2.感嘆詞B1
釋義

said after an unkind remark or joke when it feels emotionally painful.

例句

"You sing worse than Dad." "Ouch, that was rude."

Ouch, + comment after an insult

Putri laughed, then said "Ouch" when Leo mocked Putri's old phone.

say "ouch" after a personal joke

同義詞
  • ow

    can also be used figuratively, but it more often suggests physical pain

  • oof

    common when a remark lands hard or feels socially awkward

  • ugh

    focuses more on annoyance or disgust than on feeling wounded

文法句型

Ouch, + reaction to a rude remark

say "ouch" after + criticism or teasing

用法筆記

Often follows teasing, blunt honesty, or criticism, and can sound half-playful when the emotional hurt is mild. Distinguish from sense 1: here the pain is social or emotional, not physical.

常見錯誤

❌Ouch, your report is a mess,' Tina told Ben.
✅Tina told Ben, 'Your report is a mess,' and Ben replied, 'Ouch.
💡'ouch' reacts to a hurtful comment; it does not introduce one.
❌I felt ouch after her joke.
✅I felt hurt after her joke.' / 'I said "ouch" after her joke.
💡use 'hurt' for the feeling and 'ouch' for the spoken reaction.

ouch — noun