奄奄一息

yǎnyǎn-yīxī

idiom #14,704

Meanings

那只小猫被发现时已经奄奄一息了。

Nà zhī xiǎo māo bèi fāxiàn shí yǐjīng yǎnyǎnyīxī le.

The little cat was already on its last breath when it was found.

公司的财务状况奄奄一息，急需注资。

Gōngsī de cáiwù zhuàngkuàng yǎnyǎnyīxī, jíxū zhù zī.

The company's financial situation is on the brink of collapse and urgently needs an investment.

usage

Can be used literally for a dying person or animal, and figuratively for businesses, relationships, or anything in its final stages.

memory

奄奄 means faint and weak breathing, 一息 means one breath — picture someone with only one breath left.

奄 yǎn

一 yī

息 xī