Translation guide
Describes heavy, labored, or audible breathing, often from exertion, emotion, or medical conditions. Japanese uses different verbs and onomatopoeia depending on the cause and sound.
To describe breathing hard after physical activity, like running or exercise.
Literally 'breath runs out', meaning to be out of breath or short of breath. Common for post-exercise panting.
走った後で息が切れた。
I was out of breath after running.
To be out of breath; often used in the progressive form 息を切らしている to describe the state of panting.
彼は息を切らして階段を駆け上がった。
He ran up the stairs, panting.
Onomatopoeic phrase meaning to pant audibly, like 'huff and puff'. Casual and vivid.
犬が暑さでハアハア言っている。
The dog is panting from the heat.
To describe hard breathing caused by excitement, anger, fear, or nervousness.
Literally 'breath is rough'. Describes heavy, rough breathing often from anger, excitement, or distress.
怒りで息が荒くなった。
My breathing became heavy with anger.
To breathe in an excited, flustered manner; often implies anticipation or emotional arousal.
彼女は息を弾ませて結果を待っていた。
She waited for the results with bated breath.
To describe difficulty breathing, wheezing, or shortness of breath from health issues.
Adjective meaning 'hard to breathe' or 'suffocating'. Used for subjective feeling of breathlessness.
胸が苦しくて息苦しい。
My chest feels tight and it's hard to breathe.
More clinical term for rough or labored breathing, often used in medical contexts.
患者は呼吸が荒く、酸素が必要だ。
The patient is breathing hard and needs oxygen.
Onomatopoeic verb for wheezing or breathing with a whistling sound, typical of asthma or congestion.
風邪で胸がゼイゼイする。
My chest is wheezing because of a cold.
To describe loud or labored breathing while sleeping, including snoring.
To snore. The standard expression for noisy breathing during sleep.
父はいびきをかいて寝ている。
My father is sleeping and snoring.
Literally 'sleeping breath is rough'. Describes heavy breathing during sleep, not necessarily snoring.
熱があるのか、寝息が荒い。
Maybe he has a fever; his breathing is heavy in his sleep.
Both mean 'to be out of breath', but 息が切れる is intransitive (breath runs out) and often describes the state, while 息を切らす is transitive (to make one's breath run out) and often used in the progressive form to describe the action of panting.
息が切れて話せない。
I'm out of breath and can't talk.
彼は息を切らしながら走ってきた。
He came running, panting.
The English phrase 'breathe hard' does not translate directly to 固く息をする or similar. Use the idiomatic expressions provided.
固く息をする
breathe hard (literal, incorrect)
Literally 'breathe with one's shoulders', meaning to breathe heavily with heaving shoulders, often from extreme exhaustion or emotion.
彼は肩で息をしながら倒れ込んだ。
He collapsed, breathing heavily with heaving shoulders.