ほっと一ひと息いき

also: ホッとひといき

Meanings

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.

Kanji

一one, one radical (no.1)
息breath, respiration, son

Related 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.

Built from

ほっと+一ひと息いき

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

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.