一口气

• Pinyin: yī kǒu qì
• Hanzi breakdown: 一 = one; 口 = mouth; 气 = breath/air

Meaning

In one breath; in one go; without stopping. Doing something continuously without pause.

Emphasizes completing an action without interruption or rest. Can be used literally (holding breath) or figuratively (doing something non-stop). Often implies determination, urgency, or enthusiasm. Common with verbs like 读完, 喝完, 做完.

Examples

1. 他一口气喝完了一整瓶水。 He drank a whole bottle of water in one go.
2. 这本小说太精彩了，我一口气读完了。 This novel was so exciting that I read it all in one sitting.
3. 她一口气爬了二十层楼，累得气喘吁吁。 She climbed twenty floors in one go and was completely out of breath.

Usage Guide

Context: determination, completion, everyday

Tone: emphatic

Do Say

• 一口气说完吧，别停。(Say it all in one go — don't stop.)
• 他一口气跑了五公里。(He ran five kilometers without stopping.)

Don't Say

• 我一口气慢慢吃 (Contradictory — 一口气 implies speed/continuity, not slowness)

Origin & History

Compound of 一 (one), 口 (mouth), and 气 (breath). Literally 'one breath,' suggesting continuous action.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal