息

Meaning

息 centers on the movement of air and the life it sustains: breathing and respiration. The meanings 'son', 'interest (on money)', and 'rest' are natural extensions—a son is one's own breath continuing, interest is the 'breath' or growth of money, and rest is a pause to catch one's breath. 'Coming to an end' can be seen as the final breath.

• 息子むすこ
  N4

  son

• 息いき
  N3

  breath; breathing

• 生息せいそく

  inhabiting; living

• ため息ためいき
  N3

  sigh

• 休息きゅうそく
  N2

  rest; relief; relaxation

• 一息ひといき
  N1

  one breath

• 窒息ちっそく
  N1

  suffocation; choking; asphyxia

• 喘息ぜんそく
  N1

  asthma

• 消息しょうそく
  N1

  news (from someone); letter; contact

• 子息しそく
  N1

  (another's) son

• 利息りそく
  N2

  interest (on a loan, deposit etc.)

• 息切れいきぎれ
  N1

  shortness of breath; panting; puffing

• 終息しゅうそく

  cessation; (coming to an) end

• 息吹いぶき

  breath

• 鼻息はないき

  nasal breathing; breathing through one's nose

• 寝息ねいき
  N1

  breathing of a sleeping person

• 嘆息たんそく

  sigh (of grief, disappointment, etc.); grieving; lamenting; deploring

• 消息筋しょうそくすじ

  informed circles

• 生息地せいそくち

  habitat; home (e.g. of the tiger)

• 一人息子ひとりむすこ
  N3

  only son

• ドラ息子どらむすこ

  lazy son; profligate son

Explore all words using 息 →