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    Chinese Grammar

    Expressing "to swallow" with 咽 (yàn)

    Actions & Events

    Structure

    Subject + 咽 + Object

    Explanation

    咽 (yàn) means "to swallow." It describes the action of moving food or liquid down the throat, and is often used in contexts describing difficulty eating or swallowing.

    Examples

    • 药片太大了,我咽不下去。

      Yàopiàn tài dà le, wǒ yàn bú xiàqù.

      The pill is too big; I can't swallow it.

    • 他紧张得连口水都咽不下。

      Tā jǐnzhāng de lián kǒushuǐ dōu yàn bú xià.

      He was so nervous he couldn't even swallow his saliva.

    • 慢慢嚼,别急着咽。

      Mànmàn jiáo, bié jízhe yàn.

      Chew slowly, don't rush to swallow.

    Expressing "to swallow" with 咽 (yàn) | Chinese Grammar