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.
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.
He ran up the stairs, panting.
Onomatopoeic phrase meaning to pant audibly, like 'huff and puff'. Casual and vivid.
The dog is panting from the heat.
To describe hard breathing caused by excitement, anger, fear, or nervousness.
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.
My chest feels tight and it's hard to breathe.
More clinical term for rough or labored breathing, often used in medical contexts.
Onomatopoeic verb for wheezing or breathing with a whistling sound, typical of asthma or congestion.
My chest is wheezing because of a cold.
To describe loud or labored breathing while sleeping, including snoring.
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.
I'm out of breath and can't talk.
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.
breathe hard (literal, incorrect)
She waited for the results with bated breath.
Literally 'breathe with one's shoulders', meaning to breathe heavily with heaving shoulders, often from extreme exhaustion or emotion.
He collapsed, breathing heavily with heaving shoulders.
The patient is breathing hard and needs oxygen.