Proverb / Kotowaza
青息吐息
A state of extreme distress, suffering, or being cornered by financial hardship.
Breathing out sighs and blue breaths
Quick Answer
A state of extreme distress, suffering, or being cornered by financial hardship.
- Literal Image
- Breathing out sighs and blue breaths
- How to Use It
- Describe a person, business, or project that is struggling severely to survive or keep up with demands.
Meaning
It describes the act of letting out deep sighs due to extreme distress or being in a pale, exhausted state from hardship. It applies to situations of financial ruin or being overwhelmed by consecutive problems. The expression highlights a state of being pushed to the physical or mental limit.
Literal Image
Breathing out sighs and blue breaths
How to Use It
Describe a person, business, or project that is struggling severely to survive or keep up with demands.
Tone
Neutral register used to describe a dire or critical situation.
Examples
不況の影響で、多くの中小企業が青息吐息の状態だ。
Due to the recession, many small and medium-sized enterprises are in a state of extreme distress.
重なる借金の返済に、彼は青息吐息だ。
He is struggling and gasping under the weight of repaying multiple debts.
相次ぐトラブルの対応に追われ、現場は青息吐息となっている。
Overwhelmed by handling successive troubles, the workers on-site are at their wits' end.
Learning Notes
Key Vocabulary
The vocabulary 'aoiki' is idiomatic, but the grammar is a simple noun compound typical of four-character idioms.
青息
あおいき / aoiki
distressed sigh / pale complexion
吐息
といき / toiki
sigh / breath
困窮
こんきゅう / konkyuu
destitution / distress
Usage Profile
Misread Risk
Do not use this for a simple tired sigh after a normal day of work; it implies being cornered by serious problems or suffering.
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Related Proverbs
Origin
'Aoiki' (blue breath) refers to the pale complexion or the pained sigh let out during times of suffering. It is combined with 'Toiki' (sigh) to emphasize a state of extreme distress or a desperate situation.
Index
Topics, Situations, and Tags
Topics
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Source Note
Where did this entry get its data from? The reference links are listed below. To understand how to read this section, see Data Sources.