dying breath; last gasp; tenuous survival
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesnoun
faint breath before death; the last gasp; a barely sustained existence
literaryA classical, literary term often used metaphorically to describe an organization, system, or tradition on the verge of collapse. It has a strong negative connotation of weakness and imminent demise.
Nà那
jiā家
lǎo老
gōng公
sī司
zài在
xīn新
jì技
shù术
chōng冲
jī击
xià下
，
zhǐ只
shì是
gǒu苟
yán延
cán残
chuǎn喘
。
That old company is merely clinging to a precarious existence under the impact of new technology.
Dí敌
bīng兵
zhǐ只
shèng剩
xià下
cán残
chuǎn喘
zhī之
lì力
，
hěn很
kuài快
biàn便
tóu投
xiáng降
le了
。
The enemy soldiers were at their last gasp and surrendered soon after.
Show 1 more exampleShow fewer examples
Zhè这
zhǒng种
luò落
hòu后
de的
zhì制
dù度
bù不
guò过
shì是
zài在
gǒu苟
yán延
cán残
chuǎn喘
bà罢
le了
。
This outdated system is merely lingering on its deathbed.