气息奄奄 — “On one's last gasp”
气息奄奄 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “on one's last gasp”. Barely breathing; at the point of death. Also, metaphorically, describing something in a state of extreme decline or near collapse, on the verge of extinction.
气息奄奄 Pronunciation and Pinyin
- 气qì
- 息xī
- 奄yǎn
- 奄yǎn
气息奄奄 Character Breakdown
Example Sentence with 气息奄奄
Origin and Story of 气息奄奄
After Emperor Wu of Jin unified the country, he promoted 'governing the empire with filial piety,' advocating respect for parents and elders.
He intended to appoint Li Mi, a minister from Western Shu, and thus issued an imperial edict naming Li Mi as a Chamberlain (Langzhong).
However, Li Mi was reluctant to become an official. He submitted a memorial to Emperor Wu of Jin, titled "Chen Qing Biao" (Memorial on My Situation), explaining that his grandmother was on her last gasp. He described how they were each other's sole companions, dependent on one another, and requested to serve as an official only after he had finished attending to his grandmother.
Idioms Related to 气息奄奄
Antonyms of 气息奄奄
More idioms starting with 气
- qì气yì义xiāng相tóu投to be congenial in spirit and sentiment
- qì气ào傲xīn心gāo高proud in spirit and high in ambition
- qì气chōng充zhì志dìng定energetic and determined
- qì气chōng充zhì志jiāo骄Puffed up with pride and arrogance
- qì气kè克dǒu斗niú牛possess immense and awe-inspiring spirit
- qì气guān冠sān三jūn军bravest in the entire army
- qì气chōng冲dǒu斗niú牛towering rage or overwhelming momentum
- qì气chōng冲niú牛dǒu斗full of towering rage or immense vigor
- qì气chōng冲xiāo霄hàn汉immense courage and lofty ambition
- qì气jué决quán泉dá达proceed extremely smoothly and effortlessly
- qì气líng凌xiāo霄hàn汉awe-inspiring and lofty spirit
- qì气shì势xiōng汹xiōng汹menacing and aggressive
Questions about 气息奄奄
- What does 气息奄奄 mean?
- 气息奄奄 (qì xī yǎn yǎn) is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “on one's last gasp”.
- How do you pronounce 气息奄奄?
- 气息奄奄 is pronounced qì xī yǎn yǎn in Mandarin Chinese.
- Where does 气息奄奄 come from?
- 气息奄奄 comes from a classical Chinese story dating back to ancient China. The full story is on this page.
- What is the Chinese definition of 气息奄奄?
- 形容呼吸微弱，快要断气的样子。也比喻事物衰败没落，即将灭亡。