奄奄一息

yǎnyǎn-yìxī

idiom #14,704

Meanings

HSK 3

那只小猫被发现时已经奄奄一息了。

Nà zhī xiǎo māo bèi fāxiàn shí yǐjīng yǎnyǎn-yìxī le.

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

HSK 7-9

公司的财务状况奄奄一息，急需注资。

Gōngsī de cáiwù zhuàngkuàng yǎnyǎn-yìxī, jíxū zhùzī.

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