屏住 (bǐngzhù): to hold (one's breath)

Meanings

1 to hold (one's breath)
2 to suppress; to restrain

Characters

屏

bǐng

to hold back; to suppress

住

zhù

to hold; to stop (result complement)

Examples

他屏住呼吸，一动不动。

Tā bǐngzhù hūxī, yī dòng bù dòng.

He held his breath and didn't move a muscle.

观众们都屏住了呼吸。

Guānzhòngmen dōu bǐngzhù le hūxī.

The audience all held their breath.

Tips

mistakes

In 屏住, 屏 is read bǐng (3rd tone), not píng (2nd tone). When meaning 'screen' (屏幕), it's píng. When meaning 'to hold back/suppress', it's bǐng. This is a common pronunciation trap.

Stroke Order

屏 píng

住 zhù

Related Words

保住 bǎozhù #3,940

to keep / to preserve / to hold on to

忍不住 rěnbuzhù HSK 5 #4,573

cannot help (doing something) / unable to bear; unable to hold back

住嘴 zhùzuǐ #4,522

to shut up / to hold one's tongue / to stop talking

打住 dǎzhù #5,664

to stop / to halt / hold on

住手 zhùshǒu #1,480

to stop / to halt / hold it

抓住 zhuāzhù HSK 3 #706

to grab hold of; to seize firmly / to capture; to catch

稳住 wěnzhù #6,329

to steady / to stabilize / to hold steady / to keep calm

住口 zhùkǒu #6,832

to shut up / to stop talking / to hold one's tongue

按住 ànzhù #11,902

to press and hold / to hold down

留住 liúzhù #8,415

to keep; to retain; to hold on to / to get someone to stay