透不过气

透不過氣

tòubùguòqì

phrase #17,346

Meanings

1 unable to breathe
2 suffocating
3 stifling

Characters

to penetrate; to pass through

to pass; through

Literally: breath cannot pass through

Examples

工作压力大得让人透不过气。

Gōngzuò yālìdà de ràng rén tòubùguòqì.

The work pressure is so great it's suffocating.

房间里太闷了，透不过气来。

Fángjiān lǐ tài mēn le, tòubùguòqì lái.

The room is too stuffy, I can't breathe.

Tips

usage

Often used figuratively to describe overwhelming pressure or stress. The full form is 透不过气来. Compare with 喘不过气 (chuǎnbùguòqì), which is more common and has the same meaning.

Stroke Order

透 tòu

不 bù

过 guò

气 qì