Usage patterns 息いき を 吸す う to inhale; to breathe in
He took a deep breath before starting to speak.
〈 人ひと 〉 と 息いき を 合あ わせる to synchronize timing with someone
The two of them played in perfect sync with each other.
息いき を 吐は く to exhale; to breathe out
She exhaled slowly and relaxed her body.
息いき を 止と める to hold one's breath
He held his breath before going into the water.
息いき が 苦くる しい to have trouble breathing
Climbing the stairs leaves me short of breath.
白しろ い 息いき visible breath (in cold air)
On cold mornings you can see your breath in the air.
Expressions· 38 虫むし の 息いき dying breath; at death's door 息いき が 合あ う be in sync; work well together; get along well 息いき が 弾はず む breathe hard; pant; be out of breath 息いき をつく take a breath; take a short rest Show 5 more Show fewer 息いき を 呑の む gasp; catch one's breath; be breathless 息いき が 切き れる run out of breath; be short of breath; lose one's breath · run out of steam; be unable to continue; collapse · die See all 38 in Explore →
Kanji 息 breath, respiration, son Related words· 7 呼吸 is the formal, physiological term for breathing, while 息 is the everyday word for a single breath.
湯気 is the normal everyday word for rising steam or vapor, while 息 in this sense is a more figurative, literary way to describe it.
調和 is a general, abstract word for harmony or balance, while 息 expresses rapport more narrowly through set phrases like 息が合う .
息 is breath or breathing in general, while 鼻息 specifically refers to breath passing through the nose.
Show 3 more Show fewer 息 is the plain, general word for breath or breathing, whereas 寝息 narrows this to the quiet breathing heard from someone who is asleep.
息 is the everyday native word for a breath (息を吸う /吐く ), whereas ブレス is a more specialized loanword used in music, sports, or performance contexts.
息 is the common, neutral word for breath, whereas 息吹 carries a literary, figurative nuance tied to vitality or freshness.
Don't confuse with 息 (breath) and 意気 (spirit, morale) are pronounced identically but refer to completely different things.
息 is the general word for breath, whereas ため息 refers specifically to a sigh exhaled to express emotion like tiredness or sadness.
Word family· 31 sigh
one breath; a single breath · pause; break; breather · in one go; without stopping · a little more effort; a bit more push
breather; break; relaxation · vent; ventilation opening
choking; suffocating; stifling · oppressive; heavy
shortness of breath; panting; puffing · running out of steam; losing momentum; loss of efficiency
Show 18 more Show fewer sigh; long breath
nasal breathing; breath from the nose · excitement; enthusiasm; eagerness
breathing; respiration
breathing of a sleeping person; sleeping breath
rage; storm; be furious · enthuse; speak enthusiastically; get worked up
taking a breath; breathing pause · short break; breather
breathe heavily; pant; gasp; sigh · live; be alive
strain; bear down; push
long-lasting; sustained; prolonged · long-winded; drawn-out
deep sigh; heavy sigh
difficult breathing; heavy breathing; gasping
reek of liquor on one's breath
anxious sigh; pained sigh
take a breath; catch one's breath; take a short rest
gasp; under one's breath
life; breath of life
rest; break
strain; bear down
See all 31 in Explore →
Written forms 息いき Usage 99%
Standard common kanji spelling for breath and related idiomatic uses.
いき Usage 1%
Etymology A native Japanese word written with 息 , the standard kanji associated with breath. The deeper historical derivation of いき is not specified.
Report an issue with this page
Copyright © 2026 Kotomora. All Rights Reserved.
