Definition
咽气 is a verb-object compound (离合词) meaning 'to die' — literally 'to swallow one's last breath.' It is used as a euphemistic way to say someone has passed away. As a separable verb, particles like 了 or 过 can be inserted between the two syllables: 咽了气 ('breathed one's last'). The object 气 can also be modified, e.g., 咽最后一口气 ('take the final breath'). The compound is intransitive — you never put a direct object after it.
v.o.
to breathe one's lastto die
Examples
- 咽气。Tā zài yīyuàn lǐ píngjìng de yàn qì le.He died peacefully in the hospital.
- 。Lǎorén yàn le zuìhòu yì kǒu qì.The old man breathed his last.
- 咽气。Tā yàn qì qián hái diànjì zhe jiārén.Before dying, he was still thinking about his family.
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