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屏息 (へいそく) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Meanings 1
noun, noun or participle which takes 'suru'
bated breath ; silence from fear or awe
Describes holding one's breath or being silenced due to tension, fear, or respect. Often used in the phrase 屏息して (holding one's breath). The second gloss 'being cowed into silence' emphasizes the psychological state.
彼かれ は 上じょう 司し の 怒ど 声せい に 屏へい 息そく する ばかり だっ た 。
He could only hold his breath in silence at his boss's angry shouting.
Written forms 屏へい 息そく Usage 100%
Standard kanji form; 屏 means 'to hold (breath)' and 息 means 'breath'.
閉へい 息そく
Variant kanji form using 閉 ('close'); less common but still used.
Kanji 息 breath, respiration, son Similar words 息いき をのむ 息をのむ is a common expression for 'to gasp' or 'to catch one's breath' from surprise or shock, while 屏息 is a more literary term for sustained breath-holding due to tension or fear.
沈ちん 黙もく 沈黙 means 'silence' in general, whereas 屏息 specifically implies a tense, breath-held silence.
Etymology Compound of 屏 (hei, 'to hold back, screen') and 息 (soku, 'breath'). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the word is formed from classical Chinese elements.
