Chinese word

叹气

Pronunciation

Pinyintàn qì

Meaning

  • verbsigh

Example

看到成绩，他无奈地叹气。kàn dào chéng jì tā wú nài dì tàn qì

When he saw his grades, he sighed helplessly.

Illustration for 叹气 (sigh)

More examples

听到那件事，他无声地叹气。tīng dào nà jiàn shì tā wú shēng dì tàn qì

When he heard about that, he sighed silently.

Core concept

The outward release of breath becomes a small signal of an inward burden, from fatigue and helplessness to disappointment or reflection.

Common phrases

  • 轻轻地叹气qīng qīng dì tàn qì

    sigh softly

  • 无声地叹气wú shēng dì tàn qì

    sigh silently

  • 不禁叹气bù jīn tàn qì

    cannot help sighing

Similar words

叹息tàn xī: To sigh with sadness, regret, or emotional heaviness, often in a reflective tone.
感叹gǎn tàn: To express strong feeling, such as wonder, admiration, surprise, or dissatisfaction.

Definition in Chinese

用吐出一口气的动作或声音来表示失望、无奈、疲倦或感慨，也可指这种吐息本身。yòng tǔ chū yì kǒu qì de dòng zuò huò shēng yīn lái biǎo shì shī wàng wú nài pí juàn huò gán kǎi yě kě zhǐ zhè zhǒng tǔ xī běn shēn

Word origin

The first character 叹 (tàn, "sigh") names the expression of feeling, while 气 (qì, "breath") supplies its physical form, so the compound centers emotion on exhalation.

Usage tips

  • English speakers often connect a sigh with sadness, but this everyday Chinese verb also fits tiredness, resignation, and thoughtful reaction.

Opposites

Related words

  • 长叹cháng tànsigh deeplyverb
  • 慨叹kǎi tànsigh regretfullyverb
  • 叹服tàn fúadmireverb

Word lists with this word