Swallow something without drinking anything

not tasty thus hard to swallow; hard to deal with

to choke (literally, or metaphorically by failing on the verge of success)

fish bone

to choke on something

can not swallow; not willing to bear; unable to stomach something

caught in a dilemma; not know whether to go forward or back

Swallow something without drinking anything

Swallow something without drinking anything

to choke on bones

variant of 耿直[geng3 zhi2]

to choke on a piece of food etc

fish bone stuck in one's throat (idiom); fig. to feel obliged to speak out candidly

lit. as if having a fish bone stuck in one's throat (idiom)

lit. fish bone of a minister (idiom); fig. person one can rely on for candid criticism