屏息 (bǐngxī): to hold one's breath

Meanings

1 to hold one's breath
2 to bate one's breath

Characters

屏

bǐng

to hold back; suppress

息

xī

breath

Examples

观众屏息凝视着舞台。

Guānzhòng bǐngxī níngshì zhe wǔtái.

The audience watched the stage with bated breath.

他屏息听着外面的动静。

Tā bǐngxī tīng zhe wàimiàn de dòngjing.

He held his breath, listening for movement outside.

Tips

mistakes

屏 here is read bǐng (third tone, to suppress/hold), not píng as in 屏幕 (píngmù, screen). Same character, two readings, two unrelated meanings. The full set phrase 屏息凝神 (bǐngxī níngshén, hold breath and focus) is common in description of tense moments.