窒息

• Pinyin: zhì xī
• Hanzi breakdown: 窒 = 穴 + 至 (cave + arrive — blocked passage); 息 = 自 + 心 (nose + heart — breath)

Meaning

To suffocate; to choke; asphyxiation. The state of being unable to breathe due to lack of air.

Used medically and figuratively. 窒息感 (feeling of suffocation), 窒息而死 (die of suffocation). Figuratively: 令人窒息的压力 (suffocating pressure), 经济窒息 (economic strangulation). Conveys extreme restriction or oppression.

Examples

1. 消防员及时救出了被困在火场中险些窒息的居民。 Firefighters rescued residents who were trapped in the blaze and nearly suffocated.
2. 高强度的工作压力让他感到窒息，最终选择辞职。 The intense work pressure made him feel like he couldn’t breathe, and he ultimately chose to resign.
3. 过于严格的管控可能会窒息企业的创新活力。 Overly strict controls may suffocate a company’s innovative drive.

Usage Guide

Context: medical, emotional description, figurative

Tone: intense

Do Say

• 婴儿睡眠时要注意防止被子捂住口鼻导致窒息。(When babies sleep, be careful to prevent blankets from covering their mouth and nose causing suffocation.)
• 沉重的债务负担几乎让这家企业窒息。(The heavy debt burden nearly suffocated this company.)

Don't Say

• 我有点窒息 — for mild discomfort, use 喘不过气 or 透不过气; 窒息 implies severe or life-threatening lack of air

Origin & History

窒 (obstruct/blocked) + 息 (breath)

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal