diu3 geng2 dou1 jiu3 tau3 hei3吊頸都要透氣吊颈都要透气
Jyutpingdiu3 geng2 dou1 jiu3 tau3 hei3
Yalediu géng dōu yiu tau hei
Definition
To need a break to catch one's breath no matter how busy or desperate the situation is.
colloquialworkhealth
How it's used
This idiom uses a dark, hyperbolic image of someone hanging by their neck to emphasize that even in the most desperate or suffocating circumstances, one must find a moment to breathe. It is a common piece of advice given to workaholics or people overwhelmed by stress. The tone is empathetic and serves as a reminder that health and sanity are more important than productivity.
Examples
No matter how busy you are with work, you still need to take a break.
Related words
Common phrases
busy to the point of suffocation
Common mistake
Do not take the literal meaning of hanging by the neck seriously, as it is purely metaphorical. It is not a phrase used to describe actual danger, but rather a way to tell someone to stop pushing themselves to the point of exhaustion.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
