wui4 hei3回氣回气
Jyutpingwui4 hei3
Yalewùih hei
Definition
To take a break to catch one's breath and regain energy after an intensive activity.
colloquialdaily actionshealth
How it's used
Focuses specifically on the recovery of stamina or mental energy after a sustained, high intensity effort. It implies a pause is necessary to regain one's momentum before continuing or starting the next task. Unlike 唞氣 which can simply mean to breathe or take a short rest, 回氣 carries a stronger sense of recharging one's internal reserves.
Examples
I'm exhausted after running, I need to take a breather first.
Do you need a break after finishing this report?
Related words
Common mistake
Do not use this word to mean simply breathing or catching one's breath in a medical sense. It is strictly for recovering energy after exertion, not for the physical act of respiration.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
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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.
