tau3 m4 dou3 hei3透唔到氣透唔到气
Jyutpingtau3 m4 dou3 hei3
Yaletau m̀h dou hei
Definition
Unable to breathe; breathless; suffocating.
colloquialbodyhealth
How it's used
Describes both literal physical suffocation and the metaphorical feeling of being overwhelmed by stress or pressure. It is frequently used in casual complaints about tight clothing, crowded spaces, or an excessive workload. The structure relies on the potential complement 唔, which indicates an inability to complete the action of breathing.
Examples
Related words
Common phrases
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the medical term for asthma, which is 哮喘. While 透唔到氣 describes the sensation of breathlessness, it is a descriptive phrase rather than a diagnosis.
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.
