噎 (yē) - To choke & to suffocate

噎Tone 1

yē ｜ 15 strokes ｜ radical:

嬿一

噎 · yē

To choke;

to suffocate;

to be choked up (emotionally);

to obstruct.

To choketo suffocateto be choked up (emotionally)

Usage highlights

Choke on foodChoke to deathFeel choked upChoke back tearsFood stuck in throatChoking hazard

Synonyms

  • 哽— To choke; to have a lump in one's throat
  • 呛— To choke (on liquid or smoke); to irritate the throat

Antonyms

  • 畅— Smooth; unimpeded; free-flowing
  • 通— Open; through; unblocked

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He choked on a piece of food (噎住了).
  • She was choked with emotion (因情绪激动而哽咽).
  • The smoke made everyone choke (烟把大家都呛噎了).
  • Don't talk while eating or you might choke (吃饭时别说话, 小心噎着).

Collocations

  • Choke on food(噎食)
  • Choke to death(噎死)
  • Feel choked up(哽咽)
  • Choke back tears(噎住眼泪)
  • Food stuck in throat(食物噎喉)
  • Choking hazard(噎呛危险)

Idioms

  • Choking on food due to fear of choking(因噎废食)
  • Too choked up to speak(哽咽难言)
  • Choked with sobs(抽抽噎噎)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • The idiom '因噎废食' warns against abandoning essential activities due to minor risks, like refusing to eat for fear of choking.
  • In traditional Chinese medicine, choking may relate to qi obstruction or emotional stagnation.
  • The character appears in expressions describing emotional overwhelm where words fail.

FAQ