要命

yàomìng
adjective HSK 7-9 #6,048

Meanings

  1. 1 extremely
  2. 2 terribly
  3. 3 life-threatening
  4. 4 awful

Examples

HSK 2
Jīntiān rè de yàomìng.
It's terribly hot today.
HSK 4
Yá téng qǐlái zhēn yàomìng.
A toothache is really awful when it strikes.

Tips

memory
Literally 'demanding your life' (要命) - so extreme it could kill you. Used colloquially as a dramatic intensifier: 累得要命 (exhausted to death), 饿得要命 (starving to death).
grammar
Pattern: adjective + 得要命 means 'extremely [adjective].' It's informal and expressive.

Stroke Order

yào
mìng