- 奄奄一息 yǎnyǎnyīxī dyingat one's last gasp; on the verge of death; breathing so weakly that one is close to the end
- 一息尚存 yīxīshàngcún as long as a breath remainsto still be alive, often used to express a commitment to continue or persevere until the very end of one's life; while one still has a breath left
- 一息奄奄 yīxīyǎnyǎn at death's dooron the verge of death; at one's last gasp; describing a life or situation that is nearing its end