上气不接下气 shàng qì bù jiē xià qì

DEFINITIONS

  1. out of breath (idiom)
  2. to gasp for air

CHARACTERS

上 shàng
HSK 1
top; superior, highest; go up, send up
气 qì
HSK 1
steam, vapor; KangXi radical 84
不 bù
HSK 1
no, not; un-; negative prefix
接 jiē
HSK 3
receive; continue; catch; connect
下 xià
HSK 1
under, underneath, below; down; inferior; bring down
气 qì
HSK 1
steam, vapor; KangXi radical 84