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One of the difficulties facing any learner of another language is to try to
understand the nuance of words between languages. In English, 'to be sick' is
used for both the state of being ill as well as a polite term for the act of
vomiting. Does this nuance carry over to 病{や}む (even informally), or would
吐{は}く or げろげろ吐{は}く be the better option?
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2015-09-29T11:26:32.123
28373
2015-09-30T20:26:44.253
2015-09-29T19:48:34.803
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question
usage
病む in actual usage
I usually use "病む” mainly for mental illness, like "精神を病んでいる、or 心を病んでいる。” I've
never used this word myself, meaning being sick, but in writing, maybe both
physically and mentally we can use. Personally "吐く”is OK, but "げろげろ吐く” doesn't
sound good. I'm not sure, but I can see this expression maybe in comic books,
but not often in the conversation. People often say, "もどす”or "吐く”. or
"たくさんもどした、or たくさん吐いた”。
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2015-09-29T12:00:33.680
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2015-09-29T12:00:33.680
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answer
病む doesn't mean / imply vomiting. It is a little literary and usually takes an
object to show what is wrong.

> 精神を病む  
>  結核{けっかく}を病んでいる

吐く is fine. げろげろ吐く sounds vivid, so you might want to avoid. Some people
prefer 戻{もど}す because it sounds indirect.
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2015-09-30T20:26:44.253
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2015-09-30T20:26:44.253
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answer