あっぷあっぷ
appu-appu
State of Being
Meaning
Someone floundering in water; Someone in trouble; In deep water.
In context
留学生は最初の半年はあっぷあっぷさ。
Foreign students struggle for the first half year.
３日連続で徹夜してるから、もうアップアップだよ。
After three straight late nights at work, I feel like I'm drowning in work.
私の宿題は山積みになり、そのあっぷあっぷです。
My homework keeps on piling up and its overwhelming.