嗆 (qiāng) - To choke & to irritate (as smoke)

嗆Tone 1

qiāng ｜ 13 strokes ｜ radical:

器情

嗆 · qiāng

To choke;

to irritate (as smoke);

to clash;

to retort sharply;

to be pungent or acrid.

To choketo irritate (as smoke)to clash

Usage highlights

Choke on waterChoke on smokePungent tasteRetort sharplyChoke on foodIrritating to the nose

Synonyms

  • 噎— To choke on food
  • 呛咳— To choke and cough

Antonyms

  • 顺— Smooth, unobstructed
  • 畅— Free-flowing, unimpeded

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The smoke made me choke (呛着了).
  • This dish is too spicy and pungent (太呛了).
  • He retorted sharply to the criticism (呛了回去).
  • Swimming in rough water can cause choking (呛水).

Collocations

  • Choke on water(呛水)
  • Choke on smoke(呛烟)
  • Pungent taste(呛味)
  • Retort sharply(呛声)
  • Choke on food(呛到)
  • Irritating to the nose(呛鼻子)

Idioms

  • To eat ginger and find it too pungent(吃辣椒怕呛)
  • To talk back defiantly(硬呛)
  • To be choked with emotion(哽咽呛咳)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Often associated with negative sensations like choking or irritation from smoke, spices, or strong smells.
  • In colloquial usage, can describe sharp verbal retorts or confrontational speech.
  • Common in contexts describing physical discomfort from environmental factors.

FAQ