'Chuǎn bu guò qì' literally means 'cannot breathe past (or beyond) breath' — it vividly expresses the physical sensation of being unable to inhale fully or catch one’s breath. The verb 喘 means 'to pant' or 'to gasp', 不 is the negation 'not', 过 indicates failure to complete or surpass a threshold, and 气 means 'breath' or 'air'. Together, they form an idiomatic verb phrase describing acute respiratory difficulty.

This expression is commonly used in health-related contexts — for example, during asthma attacks, intense exercise, panic episodes, or when exposed to smoke or high altitudes. It conveys urgency and physical distress, not just mild shortness of breath. While it can be used figuratively (e.g., under overwhelming pressure), its primary and most natural usage remains physiological — signaling real or perceived breathing impairment that demands attention.