Translation guide
How to express being out of breath in Japanese, covering physical exertion, medical conditions, and figurative uses.
Describing being winded or short of breath after exercise or physical activity.
Common phrase meaning 'to run out of breath' or 'to be out of breath'. Used when you can't breathe properly due to exercise.
走ったら息が切れた。
I got out of breath from running.
階段を上るとすぐに息が切れる。
I get out of breath quickly when climbing stairs.
Literally 'breath goes up', meaning to become out of breath, often used in sports contexts.
激しい運動で息が上がった。
I got out of breath from intense exercise.
To be out of breath, often implying you are breathing heavily. Can be used as '息を切らして' (out of breath) as an adverbial phrase.
彼は息を切らして走ってきた。
He came running, out of breath.
Noun meaning 'shortness of breath' or 'being out of breath'. Often used as '息切れする' (to become out of breath).
ちょっと走っただけで息切れする。
I get out of breath just from running a little.
Describing breathlessness caused by medical conditions like asthma, heart problems, or illness.
Adjective meaning 'difficult to breathe' or 'suffocating'. Used for medical or discomfort-related breathlessness.
最近、息苦しいことが多い。
Lately, I often feel out of breath.
喘息で息苦しくなった。
I became short of breath due to asthma.
Literally 'breathing is painful', used for difficulty breathing, often in medical contexts.
呼吸が苦しくて眠れない。
I can't sleep because I'm out of breath.
Also used for medical shortness of breath, not just exercise-induced.
Using breathlessness metaphorically to describe being overwhelmed by work, life, or pace.
Literally 'breath gets blocked', meaning to feel suffocated or stifled, often by pressure or a tense atmosphere.
仕事が忙しすぎて息が詰まりそうだ。
I'm so busy with work I feel like I can't breathe.
Metaphorically used when you can't keep up with a pace or run out of steam, like in a project or career.
このペースでは途中で息切れしそうだ。
At this pace, I'm going to run out of breath (steam) halfway.
「息が切れる」 is for temporary breathlessness from exertion, while 「息苦しい」 implies a more persistent, uncomfortable difficulty breathing, often medical or environmental.
マラソンで息が切れた。
I got out of breath during the marathon.
部屋が暑くて息苦しい。
The room is hot and it's hard to breathe.
心臓の病気で息切れがひどい。
I have severe shortness of breath due to heart disease.