Chinese word

窒息

Pronunciation

Pinyinzhì xī

Meaning

  • verbsuffocate

Example

他差点被烟窒息了。tā chà diǎn bèi yān zhì xī le

He was nearly suffocated by the smoke.

Illustration for 窒息 (suffocate)

More examples

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.

Core concept

Breathing feels cut off by pressure, tight surroundings, or a force that leaves no room.

Common phrases

  • 感到窒息gǎn dào zhì xī

    feel like suffocating

  • 在闷热的房间里窒息zài mēn rè de fáng jiān lǐ zhì xī

    suffocate in a hot stuffy room

  • 被异物窒息bèi yì wù zhì xī

    be suffocated by a foreign object

Similar words

噎住yē zhù: Having food or liquid lodge in the throat and prevent normal breathing or swallowing.
喘不过气chuǎn bú guò qì: Having trouble getting enough air, with breathing becoming shallow and difficult.
缺氧quē yǎng: Having an insufficient supply of oxygen in the body or brain.

Definition in Chinese

表示因压抑、拘束或环境狭窄而感到呼吸困难的主观感觉，也可指实际的窒息。biǎo shì yīn yā yì jū shù huò huán jìng xiá zhǎi ér gǎn dào hū xī kùn nán de zhǔ guān gǎn jué yě kě zhǐ shí jì de zhì xī

Word origin

窒 (zhì, "to block") + 息 (xī, "breath") builds the idea of breath being blocked, which extends from physical suffocation to a stifling situation.

Usage tips

  • The word often carries a stronger tone than English speakers expect from a casual complaint, so softer wording is more natural for minor discomfort.

Other meanings

  • chokeverb
  • suffocatingadjective
  • suffocationnoun

Opposites

Related words

  • 窒息感zhì xī gǎnsense of suffocationnoun
  • 窒息死zhì xī sǐdeath by suffocationnoun

Word lists with this word