呼吸
hū xī HSK 5

English Meaning

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📚 Example Sentences

我们需要呼吸新鲜空气。
Wǒmen xūyào hūxī xīnxiān kōngqì.
We need to breathe fresh air.
他呼吸很困难。
Tā hūxī hěn kùnnán.
He has difficulty breathing.
深呼吸可以帮助放松。
Shēn hūxī kěyǐ bāngzhù fàngsōng.
Deep breathing can help with relaxation.
深呼吸对身体好。
Shēn hūxī duì shēntǐ hǎo.
Deep breathing is good for the body.
他的呼吸很平稳。
Tā de hūxī hěn píngwěn.
His breathing is very steady.

💡 Memory Tip

Break the word into parts: 呼 (hū) sounds like 'who' (as in 'who exhales?') and means 'to exhale,' while 吸 (xī) sounds like 'she' (as in 'she inhales') and means 'to inhale.' Together, they form the complete action of breathing—exhaling and inhaling.

📝 Usage Notes

This word is neutral in tone and used in both formal and informal contexts, in spoken and written Chinese. It is common in everyday conversations about health, exercise, or relaxation, as well as in medical or scientific discussions about respiration.

📖 Grammar Points

As a noun, 呼吸 can function as a subject or object in sentences. It can also be used as a verb in some contexts (e.g., 呼吸空气, to breathe air), though it is primarily a noun. It often appears in verb-object structures like 呼吸空气 or in compound words describing types of breathing.

🏯 Cultural Notes

In Chinese culture, controlled breathing (e.g., in practices like qigong or tai chi) is associated with health, meditation, and energy flow (qi). The phrase '呼吸一下新鲜空气' is commonly used to suggest taking a break for mental or physical refreshment.

🔄 Similar Words

Similar words include 喘气 (chuǎnqì, to pant/gasp, often due to exertion) and 透气 (tòuqì, to ventilate or get fresh air). 呼吸 is the general term for breathing, while 喘气 implies heavy or labored breathing, and 透气 focuses on air circulation or relief from stuffiness.

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