noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no', taru-adjective, adverb taking the 'to' particle
gasping for breath; at one's last gasp; on the brink of death
Literary yojijukugo describing a state of feeble, labored breathing, often implying near death. Used in formal or written contexts.
He lay in bed, gasping for breath.
気息奄々の状態で発見された。
He was found in a state of barely breathing.
Standard kanji spelling for this yojijukugo.
Variant spelling using the repeated kanji marker 々 instead of the second 奄.
A yojijukugo of Chinese origin, combining 気息 (breath) and 奄々 (feeble, weak). The exact historical derivation is uncertain.