Definition

Verb: - To breathe one's last; to die: The primary and most common meaning, referring specifically to the moment of death when breathing stops. - To stop breathing; to cease breathing: Can be used literally to describe the act of breathing stopping, though this often implies or leads to death.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Ông cụ đã tắt thở lúc nửa đêm. (The old man breathed his last at midnight.)
  • Bệnh nhân tắt thở trong vòng tay người thân. (The patient stopped breathing in the arms of their loved ones.)
  • Chiếc xe bị hư hỏng nặng, máy đã tắt thở. (The car was severely damaged, its engine had died. Note: This is a metaphorical extension.)

Advanced Usage

• "tắt thở vì...": to die from/of... (a specific cause).
  • Nạn nhân được cho là tắt thở vì ngạt khói. (The victim is believed to have died from smoke inhalation.)
• Used metaphorically to describe something ceasing to function or losing all vitality, similar to "to die" in English.
  • Nhà máy đã đóng cửa, mọi hoạt động sản xuất đều tắt thở. (The factory closed down, all production activities have died.)

Variants and Related Words

• Tắt hơi (verb): A direct synonym meaning "to breathe one's last; to die."
• Qua đời (verb): To pass away (a more formal and gentle synonym for dying).
• Chết (verb): To die (the most direct and general term).
• Trút hơi thở cuối cùng (verb phrase): To exhale one's last breath (a more literary synonym).

Synonyms

• Breathe one's last: (Formal) To die.
• Pass away: To die (a gentle euphemism).
• Expire: (Formal) To die or come to an end.
• Perish: (Literary) To die, especially in a tragic or violent way.

Related Phrases

• Hấp hối (verb): To be in the throes of death; to be dying (refers to the process leading up to ).
• Lìa đời (verb): To depart from life; to die.

Related Idioms

• Tắt thở như đèn dầu: To die/go out like an oil lamp (an idiom describing a very quiet, gentle death).
• Chưa tắt thở chưa gọi là hết: Not dead yet, not over yet (similar in spirit to "It's not over until the fat lady sings," implying one should not give up while still alive).

verb

1. to breathe one's last