叹气

• Pinyin: tàn qì
• Hanzi breakdown: 叹 = to sigh; 气 = breath — to exhale a sigh

Meaning

To sigh; to heave a sigh. Audibly exhaling to express emotion, usually frustration, sadness, or resignation.

A common expression of emotion in Chinese culture and literature. Can express: worry (担忧地叹气), relief (松了口气), frustration (无奈地叹气), or resignation (认命地叹气). Related: 叹息 (more literary), 长叹一声 (to heave a long sigh). Frequent in novels and emotional descriptions.

Examples

1. 看到儿子的成绩单，他忍不住叹了口气。 Seeing his son's report card, he couldn't help but sigh.
2. 她望着窗外的雨，轻轻叹气。 She gazed out at the rain and sighed softly.
3. 别总叹气了，想办法解决问题才是正事。 Stop sighing all the time; figuring out how to solve the problem is what matters.

Usage Guide

Context: emotions, narrative, daily life

Tone: emotional

Do Say

• 他叹了口气说：'没办法了。'(He sighed and said, 'There's nothing we can do.')
• 别老叹气，振作起来！(Stop sighing all the time — cheer up!)

Don't Say

• 高兴时不说'叹气' (Don't use 叹气 when happy — sighing expresses negative emotions)

Origin & History

Verb-object compound: 叹 (to sigh, exclaim) + 气 (breath, air). Literally 'to exhale a sigh.'

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal