Korean word

질식

Pronunciation

Romanizationchilsik

Meaning

  • nounsuffocation

Example

음식이 목에 걸려 질식이 발생했다.eum si gi mo ge keol lyeo chil si gi pal saeng haet tta

Food got stuck in the throat, causing suffocation.

Illustration for 질식 (suffocation)

More examples

연기를 많이 들이마셔 질식 위험이 생겼다.yeon gi reul ma ni teu ri ma syeo chil sik wi heo mi saeng gyeot tta

Inhaling a lot of smoke created a risk of suffocation.

Core concept

Air or the airway is blocked, so normal breathing cannot continue.

Common phrases

  • 질식 예방chil sik ye bang

    suffocation prevention

  • 질식 사고chil sik sa go

    suffocation accident

Similar words

숨막힘summakim: Trouble breathing caused by a blocked throat or air passage.
호흡곤란hoheupkkollan: A symptom of difficult breathing that may involve fast or labored breaths.
답답함tapttapam: A mild sense of pressure or discomfort associated with breathing.

Definition in Korean

공기나 기도가 막혀 정상적으로 숨을 쉴 수 없게 되는 상태 또는 그 현상.kong gi na ki do ga ma kyeo cheong sang jeo geu ro su meul swil ssu eop kke toe neun sang tae tto neun keu hyeon sang

Word origin

This Sino-Korean compound combines elements meaning 'to block' and 'breath' to describe breathing being blocked.

Usage tips

  • This word usually signals a serious inability to breathe, not ordinary mild breathlessness or stuffiness.

Opposites

Related words

  • 질식하다chilsikadasuffocateverb
  • 질식사chilsikssadeath by suffocationnoun

Word lists with this word