How common it is
吸 appears often in everyday Chinese, so it is worth practicing early and reviewing often.
Pronunciation focus
Say xī slowly first, then repeat it in a short phrase. Listen for the tone shape.
Usage note
吸表示用嘴或设备把东西吸进来。
xī biǎo shì yòng zuǐ huò shè bèi bǎ dōng xī xī jìn lái。
Inhale means to draw something in with the mouth or a device.
Context note
吸常用于呼吸、吸气和机器。
xī cháng yòng yú hū xī 、 xī qì hé jī qì。
Inhale often appears with breathing, inhaling air, and machines.
5 examples
深吸一口气。
shēn xī yì kǒu qì。
Take a deep breath.
他吸了吸鼻子。
tā xī le xī bí zi。
He sniffed.
请不要吸烟。
qǐng bú yào xī yān。
Please do not smoke.
机器在吸水。
jī qì zài xī shuǐ。
The machine is sucking up water.
先吸气，再说话。
xiān xī qì， zài shuō huà。
First inhale, then speak.
5 mini stories
跑步后，他深吸一口气。
pǎo bù hòu， tā shēn xī yì kǒu qì。
After running, he took a deep breath.
妈妈说这里不能吸烟。
mā ma shuō zhè lǐ bù néng xī yān。
Mom said you cannot smoke here.
他吸了吸鼻子，继续走。
tā xī le xī bí zi， jì xù zǒu。
He sniffed and kept walking.
吸尘器在吸地上的灰。
xī chén qì zài xī dì shàng de huī。
The vacuum cleaner is sucking up the dust on the floor.
老师教我们吸气和呼气。
lǎo shī jiào wǒ men xī qì hé hū qì。
The teacher taught us to inhale and exhale.