Japanese meaning of 青息吐息
Reading:
あおいきといき (aoiki toiki)
English Translation:
Struggling and barely managing
Meaning & Cultural Context
Meaning:
Struggling and barely managing to get by.
Cultural Context:
Often used in personal finance, small business news, and economic commentary.
困難な状況で苦しみながらなんとか持ちこたえること。
家計・中小企業ニュース・経済論評で頻出する表現。
Grammar & Learning Points
Grammar Point
• Noun phrase for sighing in exhaustion; often with “の様子.”
Trap for English Speakers
May be mistaken as purely comedic.
Example
Basic Example
彼は借金返済で青息吐息だ。
He is struggling and barely managing to repay debts.
Applied Example
試合終盤、彼は青息吐息でコートを駆け回っていた。
In the final moments of the match, he was struggling and barely managing to keep running on the court.