tau2 hei3唞氣唞气

Jyutpingtau2 hei3

Yaletáu hei

Definition

To breathe or take a breath.

colloquialbodydaily actions

How it's used

Often used metaphorically to mean taking a break or finding relief from a stressful situation. It implies a sense of suffocation or pressure that is being released. It is much more common than the formal term 呼吸 in casual conversation.

Examples

nei1呢dou6度hung1空hei3氣gam3咁caa1差，dim2點joeng2樣tau2唞hei3氣aa4呀？

The air quality here is so bad, how can one even breathe?

Common mistake

Do not use this to describe the biological process of breathing in a medical or scientific context, as it sounds too informal and focuses more on the act of resting or recovering.