透不过气 (tòu bú) — to suffocate; to be unable to breathe; (figuratively) to feel overwhelmed or stifled
Definition
A vivid phrase meaning 'can't catch a breath' — used literally for suffocation (smoke, underwater) and figuratively for being overwhelmed by pressure or a stifling situation.
verb
to suffocateto be unable to breathe(figuratively) to feel overwhelmed or stifled
Examples
- ，透不过气。Tā zài shuǐ lǐ biē le tài jiǔ, chà diǎn tòu bú.He held his breath underwater too long and almost suffocated.
- ，透不过气。Fáng jiān lǐ de yān wèi tài zhòng, wǒ jī hū tòu bú.The smoke in the room was so thick I could hardly breathe.
- ，透不过气。Zuì jìn gōng zuò yā lì tài dà, zhēn ràng rén tòu bú.The work pressure lately is so intense it's suffocating.
Appears in
Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.