Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 窒息 | zhìxī |
| 嗆 / 呛 | |
| 噎住 | yēzhù |
| 呛 | qiāng |
The term 窒息 can be used to refer to choking in a general sense, including literal and metaphorical usage, denoting a state of being unable to breathe. The term 阻塞 refers to choking or blockage in a technical or mechanical sense, such as the obstruction of pipes or airflow.
Which one should you use?
The forms differ based on what is causing the choking: 噎住 specifically describes the sensation or act of food getting stuck in the throat, whereas 呛 is used when one chokes or coughs due to inhaling something like smoke, steam or a liquid (like water) down the wrong pipe. 窒息 is used for the physiological state of suffocation or lack of oxygen, whereas the other forms refer to the physical act of choking on something.
How does it change in a sentence?
To express that someone 'was choked' by food, you use the passive construction 被 or simply add 了 to indicate the completed state.
How do you pronounce it?
zhìxī
Did you know?
- In Chinese culture, if someone is 噎住 (choking on food), it is common for bystanders to suggest drinking water or eating a large piece of rice to 'push' the object down, a practice that contradicts Western medical advice.
- In some contexts, the word 呛 is also used to describe being 'stung' or 'provoked' by a sharp remark, turning a physical choking sensation into a social one.
- The term 窒息 is frequently used in Chinese internet slang to describe a feeling of being overwhelmed by someone's extreme beauty or an intense emotional moment, similar to 'breathless'.
Examples in context
- 如果不及时处理，可能会导致窒息。Rúguǒ bù jíshí chǔlǐ, kěnéng huì dǎozhì zhìxī.If it is not handled in time, it may lead to suffocation.
Example conversation
Two people are discussing safety at a dinner table.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen快把那块骨头拿出来！Kuài bǎ nà kuài gǔtou ná chūlái!Get that bone out quickly!
- 俊杰 Junjie怎么了，晓雯？Zěnme le, Xiǎowén?What happened, Xiaowen?
- 晓雯 Xiaowen他被骨头卡住，快窒息了！Tā bèi gǔtou kǎzhù, kuài zhìxī le!He is stuck on a bone and is choking!
- 俊杰 Junjie俊杰，快冷静下来！Jùnjié, kuài lěngjìng xiàlái!Junjie, calm down quickly!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “choke” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
