Chinese word

够呛

Pronunciation

Pinyingòu qiàng

Meaning

  • adjectivebad

Example

这件事做错了，后果可就够呛。zhè jiàn shì zuò cuò le hòu guǒ kě jiù gòu qiàng

If this is done wrong, the consequences will be bad.

Illustration for 够呛 (bad)

More examples

疫情期间，很多人的生活够呛。yì qíng qī jiān hěn duō rén de shēng huó gòu qiàng

During the pandemic, life was tough for many people.

Core concept

A situation is pushed so far beyond manageable limits that coping with it feels almost impossible.

Common phrases

  • 生活够呛shēng huó gòu qiàng

    tough life

  • 日子够呛rì zi gòu qiàng

    tough times

Similar words

糟糕zāo gāo: Describes a situation or result that is very bad overall.
严重yán zhòng: Describes harm or effects that are serious and substantial.
麻烦má fán: Describes a situation that causes trouble or obstacles and is hard to deal with.
棘手jí shǒu: Describes a problem that is difficult to handle or solve.

Definition in Chinese

口语形容词，表示情况很严重或很麻烦，程度达到令人难以承受或应付的地步。kóu yǔ xíng róng cí biǎo shì qíng kuàng hěn yán zhòng huò hěn má fán chéng dù dá dào lìng rén nán yǐ chéng shòu huò yìng fù de dì bù

Word origin

The pairing 够 (gòu, "enough") + 呛 (qiàng, "to choke") pictures a problem severe enough to make coping feel like choking.

Usage tips

  • When it comments on a future result, the word describes poor prospects rather than a person's character, so it is not a general label for someone.

Other meanings

  • toughadjective
  • unlikelyadjective

Opposites

Word lists with this word