---
title: "Yaoming Meaning: 要命 (yàomìng) Means “terribly”"
description: "要命 (yàomìng) means “terribly; extremely”. Hear its tones, see what 要 and 命 each mean."
canonical: "https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/yaoming"
published: "2026-10-21"
updated: "2026-11-06"
author: "Mandarin The Wild"
---

[What does it mean in Chinese?](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning)

# What does 要命 mean?

猫头鹰māotóuyīngowl

要命 yàomìng

## terribly; extremely

## It can also mean

- to kill; to cost someone their life
- (coll.) to be a nuisance; maddening

## Its characters

1. 要 yào to want
2. 命 mìng life (as in 生命)

## In a sentence

[See 要命 in use](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E8%A6%81%E5%91%BD)

## More words with 要 or 命

- [必要 bìyào](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/biyao)
- [不要 bùyào](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/buyao)
- [革命 gémìng](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/geming)
- [将要 jiāngyào](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/jiangyao)
- [救命 jiùmìng](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/jiuming)
- [快要 kuàiyào](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/kuaiyao)
- [命令 mìnglìng](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/mingling)
- [命运 mìngyùn](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/mingyun)
- [拼命 pīnmìng](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/pinming)
- [任命 rènmìng](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/renming)

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