透不过气 (tòu bú) — to suffocate; to be unable to breathe; (figuratively) to feel overwhelmed or stifled

Definición

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

Ejemplos

  • 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.

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