Chinese–EnglishWith examples

要命

yào mìng · yao ming

Same in simplified and traditional Chinese

HSK 7–9Old HSK 6

Meaning

CC-CEDICT
  1. to cause sb's death
  2. extremely; terribly
  3. (used in complaining about sth) to be a nuisance
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In a conversation

0:22 cartoon

Hot night market

  1. Dengdeng

    今天(jīntiān)热(rè)得(de)要命(yàomìng)，我(wǒ)不想(bùxiǎng)动(dòng)了(le)。

    It's terribly hot today. I don't want to move.

  2. Liangliang

    夜市(yèshì)里(lǐ)人(rén)多(duō)得(de)要命(yàomìng)，别(bié)去(qù)了(le)。

    The night market is terribly crowded. Let's not go.

  3. Dengdeng

    可是(kěshì)我(wǒ)饿(è)得(de)要命(yàomìng)，只(zhǐ)想(xiǎng)吃(chī)烤玉米(kǎoyùmǐ)。

    But I'm terribly hungry. I just want roasted corn.

  4. Liangliang

    好吧(hǎoba)，我(wǒ)去(qù)买(mǎi)，你(nǐ)在(zài)这儿(zhèr)等(děng)。

    Fine. I'll go buy it. You wait here.

  5. Dengdeng

    谢谢(xièxie)！你(nǐ)快点(kuàidiǎn)回来(huílai)！

    Thanks! Come back quick!

  6. Liangliang

    买到了(mǎidàole)，可是(kěshì)玉米(yùmǐ)烫(tàng)得(de)要命(yàomìng)！

    Got it! But the corn is terribly hot!

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In a sentence

2 examples
01

火(huǒ)车(chē)挤(jǐ)得(de)要(yào)命(mìng)，我(wǒ)们(men)都(dōu)找(zhǎo)不(bu)到(dào)位(wèi)子(zi)坐(zuò)。

The train was so crowded that none of us could get a seat.

Tatoeba: Chinese by nickyeow · English by CK · CC BY 2.0 FR. Simplified Chinese conversion; Pinyin added or corrected.

02

子(zǐ)翔(xiáng)那(nà)个(ge)人(rén)太(tài)老(lǎo)实(shi)了(le)，谈(tán)恋(liàn)爱(ài)都(dōu)被(bèi)动(dòng)得(de)要(yào)命(mìng)。

Tzu-hsiang's way too honest. He's hopelessly passive in relationships.

Tatoeba: Chinese by LeviHighway · English by LeviHighway · CC BY 2.0 FR. Simplified Chinese conversion; Pinyin added or corrected.

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Definitions adapted from CC-CEDICT, published by MDBG and its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Pinyin display and entry grouping have been adapted.

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