够呛

• Pinyin: gòu qiàng
• Hanzi breakdown: 够 = 多 (many/abundant) + 句 (phrase/measure) — reaching a sufficient, overwhelming point; 呛 = 口 (mouth) + 戗 (adverse/contrary) — choking, a sensation of being overwhelmed

Meaning

Unbearably difficult; barely survivable; quite a trial. Describes a situation, task, or physical condition that is extremely strenuous, uncomfortable, or just barely manageable.

够呛 is a vivid colloquial expression common in northern Mandarin, particularly Beijing dialect. It conveys that something is overwhelmingly hard or exhausting — like being choked by the effort. It can describe physical exhaustion, a near-miss outcome, a gruelling challenge, or intense discomfort. Common in spoken commentary after enduring something difficult.

Examples

1. 连续加班两周后，他整个人已经累得够呛，连说话的力气都快没有了。 After working overtime for two straight weeks, he was completely wiped out—he barely had the energy to talk.
2. 夏天在没有空调的车间里工作，热得够呛，工人们每隔一小时就需要补充水分。 Working in a workshop without air conditioning in the summer is brutally hot, and workers need to drink water every hour.
3. 这道数学题他做了整整一个下午，最终还是没解出来，真是够呛。 He worked on this math problem all afternoon and still couldn’t solve it—what a tough one.

Usage Guide

Context: daily life, colloquial, northern dialect, work, hardship

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 这次登山路途险峻，背着重装备走了六个小时，累得够呛，但大家都坚持下来了。(This mountain climb had treacherous terrain; carrying heavy equipment for six hours, everyone was exhausted to the limit, but they all persisted to the end.)
• 他去年一口气申请了十几家公司，面试压力大得够呛，幸好最终拿到了心仪的offer。(Last year he applied to over a dozen companies at once; the interview pressure was overwhelming, but thankfully he eventually landed the offer he wanted.)

Don't Say

• 在正式书面报告或学术写作中使用'够呛' — 够呛 is informal and dialectal; use 极为艰难 or 十分不易 in formal written contexts

Origin & History

够 (enough; to reach a sufficient degree) + 呛 (to choke; to be stifled). Together: so overwhelming it is like being choked — barely survivable.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal