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鼻息をうかがう (はないきをうかがう) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Meanings 1
expression, godan verb (-u)
sound out someone's feelings ; gauge someone's mood ; read someone's reaction
Idiomatic expression literally meaning 'to peek at someone's nasal breath', used when trying to discern what someone is thinking or how they feel, often in a cautious or deferential manner.
See also: 鼻息 (はないき)
彼かれ は いつも 周まわ り の 鼻はな 息いき を うかがっ て ばかり で 、 自じ 分ぶん の 意い 見けん を 言い わ ない 。
He's always just sounding out the people around him and never states his own opinion.
Written forms 鼻はな 息いき をうかがう
Common kana spelling for the verb part; the whole phrase is an idiomatic expression.
鼻はな 息いき を 窺うかが う
Kanji spelling using 窺う (to peek, to spy) is less common but still seen.
Kanji 息 breath, respiration, son 窺 lie in wait, spy on, reconnoiter Similar words 顔かお 色いろ をうかがう Similar in meaning (to read someone's expression/mood), but 顔色をうかがう focuses more on visible facial cues, while 鼻息をうかがう has a nuance of sensing someone's inner feelings or intentions more indirectly.
機き 嫌げん を 取と る Means to actively try to please someone or get on their good side, whereas 鼻息をうかがう is more about passively observing and assessing their mood.
Etymology From 鼻息 (nasal breath) and うかがう (to peek, to spy on). The phrase figuratively suggests trying to sense someone's inner state by the subtle sound or rhythm of their breathing, implying a cautious attempt to read their feelings.
