够呛 (gòu qiàng) is an informal, vivid Chinese expression meaning 'very difficult,' 'extremely tough,' or 'a real struggle.' Literally, 够 means 'enough' or 'sufficient,' and 呛 means 'to choke' or 'to be irritated by smoke or strong fumes' — together, they evoke the physical sensation of being overwhelmed or choked by difficulty, like coughing from intense smoke. This metaphorical extension conveys a sense of being pushed to one’s limit.

The phrase is commonly used in spoken Mandarin to describe challenging situations involving effort, endurance, or emotional strain — such as demanding workloads, exhausting travel, or frustrating interpersonal conflicts. It carries a tone of weary resignation or humorous exaggeration, often implying that the difficulty is unexpected or unusually severe. While not vulgar, it’s colloquial and rarely appears in formal writing or official contexts.