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ほっと一息 (ほっとひといき) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

ほっと一ひと息いき

also: ホッとひといき

Meanings

1

expression, noun

sigh of relief; breather; short break

Used when someone relaxes after a tense or busy moment, often accompanied by a literal or figurative sigh. Can also refer to taking a short rest.

試し験けんが終おわって、ほっと一ひと息いきついた。
After the exam was over, I breathed a sigh of relief.
仕し事ごとの合あい間まにほっと一ひと息いき入いれましょう。
Let's take a short break during work.

Written forms

ほっと一ひと息いき
Standard mixed kanji-kana spelling.
ホッと一ひと息いき
Katakana variant of the first part; often used for emphasis or stylistic effect.
ほっとひと息いき
All-hiragana spelling; common in casual writing.
ホッとひと息いき
Mixed katakana-hiragana variant.
ホッとひといき

Kanji

一one, one radical (no.1)

息breath, respiration, son

Similar words

一ひと息いき
一息 alone means 'a breath' or 'a short pause', but ほっと一息 specifically emphasizes relief or relaxation.
ほっとする
ほっとする is a verb phrase meaning 'to feel relieved'; ほっと一息 is a noun phrase often used with つく or 入れる to describe the action of taking a relieved breath or break.

Etymology

Combination of the onomatopoeia ほっと (sound of a sigh of relief) and 一息 (one breath). The phrase literally means 'one relieved breath' and is used idiomatically for a sigh of relief or a short rest.