soeng6 hei3 m4 zip3 haa6 hei3上氣唔接下氣上气唔接下气
Jyutpingsoeng6 hei3 m4 zip3 haa6 hei3
Yaleseuhng hei m̀h jip hah hei
Definition
To pant, gasp, or be extremely short of breath, usually due to exertion or strong emotion.
colloquialbodyhealth
How it's used
This idiom vividly describes the physical sensation of breath being unable to catch up with one's exertion. It is frequently used to describe someone who is physically exhausted from intense activity, but it also applies to someone who is so excited or anxious that they cannot speak in full, steady sentences.
Examples
He came back from running and was speaking while gasping for air.
Related words
Common phrases
to run until out of breath
to speak while gasping for air
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
