Definition
呛 (qiàng) means to choke on something entering the airway (food, drink, smoke, fumes) — a sudden, sharp irritation. 窒息 (zhìxī) is suffocation from lack of oxygen, a more severe, life-threatening condition. 憋 (biē) is holding one's breath or suppressing an urge, not choking.
verb
to choke (from swallowing the wrong way or from smoke, fumes, etc.)
Easily confused
- 枪qiānglook-alikegun, firearm, rifle
- 强qiángsound-alikestrong, powerful (physically, in ability, or intensity)
- 抢qiǎnglook-aliketo grab, to snatch (physically)
- 墙qiángsound-alikewall
- 创chuànglook-aliketo create; to found
- 腔qiāngsound-alikecavity; chamber (of the body or an object)
- 舱cānglook-alike(noun) cabin (passenger compartment on a ship or airplane)
Examples
- 呛，。Tā bèi shuǐ qiàng le yí xià，ké le hěn jiǔ.He choked on water and coughed for a long time.
- ，呛。Yān tài nóng le，qiàng de wǒ yìzhí késou.The smoke was so thick that it made me cough constantly.
- ，呛。Tā chī huāshēng de shíhou，chàdiǎn qiàng zhù.He almost choked while eating peanuts.
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