窒息

zhìxī

verb HSK 7 #4,556

Meanings

1 to suffocate
2 to choke
3 to stifle

Characters

obstruct; block

Examples

烟雾太大，差点让人窒息。

Yānwù tài dà, chàdiǎn ràng rén zhìxī.

The smoke was so thick it nearly suffocated people.

他被食物噎住，几乎窒息了。

Tā bèi shíwù yēzhù, jīhū zhìxī le.

He choked on food and nearly suffocated.

Tips

memory

窒 (block) + 息 (breath) — when breath is blocked, you suffocate.

Stroke Order

窒 zhì

息 xī