上气不接下气 Shàng qì bù jiē xià qì out of breath

Explanation

形容因劳累或着急而气喘吁吁的样子。

Describes someone who is breathless due to exertion or anxiety.

Origin Story

话说春秋时期，孔子带领弟子们周游列国，他们在卫国、陈国和蔡国都受到了冷遇，受到了各国的排挤，在行进途中，他们屡遭挫折，几经辗转，最终到达楚国。然而，陈国和蔡国却串通一气，派兵拦截孔子一行，意图加害于他。孔子和弟子们被困在一个荒凉的山谷里，缺衣少食，还要躲避追兵，经历了数日的颠沛流离。弟子们疲惫不堪，饥肠辘辘，上气不接下气，孔子看着弟子们日渐消瘦的面容，心中充满了担忧。但孔子始终保持着镇定自若的态度，他告诫弟子们要坚持下去，希望终有一天能够走出困境。最终，他们得到楚国人的帮助，才得以脱困。这段经历让孔子和他的弟子们深刻地体会到了人世间的不易，也更加坚定了他们追求理想的信念。

huà shuō chūnqiū shíqī, kǒngzǐ dài lǐng dìzǐmen zhōuyóu lièguó, tāmen zài wèi guó, chén guó hé cài guó dōu shòudào le lěngyù, shòudào le gè guó de páijǐ, zài xíngjìn tú zhōng, tāmen lǚ zāo cuòzhé, jǐ jīng zhuǎnzhuǎn, zuìzhōng dàodá chǔ guó. rán'ér, chén guó hé cài guó què chuāntōng yī qì, pài bīng lánjié kǒngzǐ yīxíng, yìtú jiā hài yú tā. kǒngzǐ hé dìzǐmen bèi kùn zài yīgè huāngliáng de shāngǔ lǐ, quē yī shǎo shí, hái yào duǒ bì zhuībīng, jīnglì le shù rì de diānpèi liúlí. dìzǐmen píbèi bùkān, jīcháng lùlù, shàng qì bù jiē xià qì, kǒngzǐ kànzhe dìzǐmen rìjiàn xiāoshòu de miànróng, xīnzhōng chōngmǎn le dānyōu. dàn kǒngzǐ shǐzhōng bǎochí zhe zhèndìng zìruò de tàidu, tā gàojiè dìzǐmen yào jiānchí xiàqù, xīwàng zhōng yǒuyī tiān nénggòu zǒu chū kùnjìng. zuìzhōng, tāmen dédào chǔ guó rén de bāngzhù, cái déyǐ tuō kùn. zhè duàn jīnglì ràng kǒngzǐ hé tā de dìzǐmen shēnkè de tǐhuì dàole rén shìjiān de bù yì, yě gèngjiā jiāndiàn le tāmen zhuīqiú lǐxiǎng de xìnyàn.

During the Spring and Autumn period, Confucius led his disciples on a journey through various states. They were poorly treated and ostracized in the states of Wei, Chen, and Cai. Throughout their travels, they faced numerous setbacks and hardships, eventually reaching Chu. However, Chen and Cai colluded and sent troops to intercept Confucius' party, intending to harm him. Confucius and his disciples found themselves trapped in a desolate mountain valley, lacking food and clothing and evading pursuers for days. The disciples were exhausted, starving, and gasping for breath. Confucius, observing his disciples' increasingly gaunt faces, felt deep concern. Yet, he maintained composure, urging his disciples to persevere, hoping that they would eventually overcome their predicament. Ultimately, they received help from the people of Chu and were able to escape. This experience profoundly taught Confucius and his disciples about the difficulties of life and further strengthened their resolve to pursue their ideals.

Usage

作状语、定语；形容因劳累或焦急而气喘吁吁的样子。

zuò zhuàngyǔ, dìngyǔ; xiáoróng yīn láolèi huò jiāojí ér qì chuǎn xūxū de yàngzi

Used as an adverbial or attributive; describes someone who is breathless due to exertion or anxiety.

Examples

• 他跑得上气不接下气。

  tā pǎo de shàng qì bù jiē xià qì

  He ran until he was out of breath.

• 运动后，他上气不接下气地瘫坐在椅子上。

  yùndòng hòu, tā shàng qì bù jiē xià qì de tānzuò zài yǐzi shang

  After exercise, he sat on the chair, gasping for breath.

Related Idioms

• 气喘吁吁

• 呼吸急促

Opposite Idioms

• 镇定自若

• 从容不迫