Understanding 息 (いき)
息 means "breath" or "breathing" and is commonly used in everyday conversation to talk about breathing, respiration, or even metaphorically to indicate a pause or moment of rest.
Common Uses
息 is often used literally to describe the act of breathing, such as in medical or exercise contexts. It also appears in expressions about being out of breath or controlling one's breath.
Collocations and Patterns
- 息を吸う (いきをすう): to inhale or take a breath.
- 息を吐く (いきをはく): to exhale.
- 息が切れる (いきがきれる): to be out of breath, often after physical exertion.
- 息をのむ (いきをのむ): to gasp or be breathless, often from surprise or awe.
Usage Notes
息 is a noun and can be combined with verbs like 吸う (to inhale) and 吐く (to exhale). It is a neutral word suitable for both casual and formal contexts. Learners sometimes confuse 息 with 呼吸 (こきゅう), which also means breathing but is more technical or medical. 息 is more common in daily conversation.
Tips
When talking about breathing exercises or describing physical states, 息 is the go-to word. Remember to pair it with appropriate verbs to express inhaling or exhaling. Also, expressions like 息が切れる are very common in sports or physical activity contexts.