English–Chinese
“suffocate” in Chinese
Chinese
Pronunciation
Pinyinzhì xī
Example
他差点被烟窒息了。tā chà diǎn bèi yān zhì xī le
He was nearly suffocated by the smoke.
How to say “suffocate” in Chinese
“Suffocate” in Chinese is 窒息 (zhì xī).
Breathing feels cut off by pressure, tight surroundings, or a force that leaves no room.
Example sentences with 窒息
在闷热的房间里，他突然觉得窒息，只好马上开窗换气。zài mēn rè de fáng jiān lǐ tā tū rán jué de zhì xī zhí hǎo mǎ shàng kāi chuāng huàn qì
In the hot and stuffy room, he suddenly felt like he was suffocating and had to open the window immediately to let in fresh air.
Tips for using 窒息
- The word often carries a stronger tone than English speakers expect from a casual complaint, so softer wording is more natural for minor discomfort.