喘 (chuǎn) - To pant & to gasp for breath

喘Tone 3

chuǎn ｜ 12 strokes ｜ radical:

橙丁

喘 · chuǎn

To pant;

to gasp for breath;

to breathe heavily;

asthma.

To pantto gasp for breathto breathe heavily

Usage highlights

Pant for breathAsthmaGaspHeavy breathingPanting voiceCatch one's breath

Synonyms

  • 息— breath; to rest (less intense than panting)
  • 吁— to sigh; to pant (often used together with 喘)

Antonyms

  • 息— calm breathing (as opposed to labored panting)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He was panting after running (跑步后喘气).
  • The patient has asthma (哮喘).
  • She gasped out a few words (喘着气说出几句话).
  • The dog was panting in the heat (狗在炎热中喘息).

Collocations

  • Pant for breath(喘气)
  • Asthma(哮喘)
  • Gasp(喘息)
  • Heavy breathing(气喘)
  • Panting voice(喘音)
  • Catch one's breath(喘口气)

Idioms

  • Gasping for breath, heart pounding(气喘吁吁)
  • Fighting for breath at death's door(苟延残喘)
  • Panting like an ox, sweating like a horse(吴牛喘月)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In traditional Chinese medicine, abnormal breathing patterns like panting (喘) are seen as symptoms of lung or kidney qi deficiency.
  • The character appears in medical texts dating back to the Huangdi Neijing discussing respiratory conditions.
  • In literature, panting often depicts physical exertion, fear, or approaching death.

FAQ