鼻はな息いき

noun

nasal breathing; breath from the nose

Literal sense: the act of breathing through the nose, or the breath itself. Used in medical, descriptive, or figurative contexts.

• 風邪かぜで鼻はなが詰つまって、鼻はな息いきが荒あらくなった。

  My nose was stuffed from a cold, and my nasal breathing became heavy.

• 彼かれの鼻はな息いきが首くび筋すじにかかってくすぐったかった。

  His breath from his nose tickled the back of my neck.

noun

excitement; enthusiasm; eagerness

Only with reading はないき

Figurative use, often in the phrase 鼻息が荒い, describing someone who is fired up, aggressive, or overly eager. Restricted to the reading はないき.

• 新しん入にゅう社しゃ員いんは鼻はな息いきが荒あらくて、先せん輩ぱいたちを驚おどろかせた。

  The new employee was so fired up that he surprised his seniors.

• 選せん挙きょ前まえはどの候こう補ほ者しゃも鼻はな息いきが荒あらい。

  Before the election, every candidate is full of fighting spirit.