Definition

Adjective: 1. Suffocating, causing suffocation: Describes a state or condition where breathing is extremely difficult or impossible due to a lack of fresh air or the presence of harmful gases. 2. Oppressive, stifling: Describes an atmosphere, environment, or situation that feels overwhelmingly heavy, restrictive, or difficult to endure, often metaphorically.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Căn phòng kín không có cửa sổ thật là ngạt hơi. (The sealed room with no windows is truly suffocating.)
  • Khói dày đặc từ đám cháy khiến mọi người cảm thấy ngạt hơi. (The thick smoke from the fire made everyone feel like they were suffocating.)
  • Bầu không khí chính trị ngạt hơi thời đó đã kìm hãm sự sáng tạo. (The oppressive political atmosphere of that time stifled creativity.)
  • Cảm giác ngạt hơi của thành phố khiến tôi muốn trở về vùng quê. (The stifling feeling of the city makes me want to return to the countryside.)

Advanced Usage

• Used figuratively for emotional or psychological pressure: Often describes a feeling of being trapped or overwhelmed by circumstances.
  • Áp lực công việc và gia đình khiến cô ấy có cảm giác ngạt hơi. (The pressure from work and family gives her a suffocating feeling.)

Variants and Related Words

• Ngạt (verb/adjective): To suffocate; suffocated. This is the root word. "Ngạt hơi" emphasizes the sensation of being breathless.
  • Bị ngạt khói. (To suffocate from smoke.)
• Nghẹt thở (adjective): Breathless, suffocating. Very similar in meaning and often interchangeable with "ngạt hơi".
  • Sự im lặng nghẹt thở trong phòng. (The suffocating silence in the room.)

Synonyms

• Nghẹt thở (adj): Breathless, suffocating.
• Ngột ngạt (adj): Stuffy, stifling, oppressive (often used for weather or atmospheres).
• Bí bách (adj): Stuffy, stifling, uncomfortable (often due to heat or lack of air).

Related Idioms/Phrases

• (Cảm thấy) như bị bóp nghẹt: (To feel) like being strangled/squeezed. This phrase conveys a similar intense feeling of pressure and inability to breathe freely, often used metaphorically.
  • Cô ấy cảm thấy như bị bóp nghẹt bởi những kỳ vọng. (She feels like she's being strangled by the expectations.)

adjective

1. suffocating, suppressive