to pant, to gasp, to breathe heavily

JLPT N5 12 strokes

Words with this Kanji

Usage and Meaning

The character "" primarily means to breathe heavily or pant, often due to exertion or respiratory difficulty. It is commonly used to describe physical states such as after exercise or in medical contexts like asthma.

Common Collocations

  • (qì chuǎn xūxū): panting heavily, out of breath, often after intense physical activity.
  • (xiàochuǎn): asthma, a medical condition involving difficulty breathing.

Nuances

When using "," speakers often imply a state of physical strain or respiratory distress. It can describe both temporary conditions (like after running) and chronic illnesses (like asthma). The word is neutral in tone and suitable for both spoken and written contexts.

Common Confusions

"" should not be confused with "喘息" which can mean to take a short break or rest, though related. "" focuses more on the act of breathing heavily itself.

Summary

Use "" when describing heavy breathing due to exertion or respiratory issues. It appears frequently in health-related vocabulary and everyday descriptions of physical fatigue.

Example Sentences

After running the marathon, he sat down panting heavily to rest.

The child played too hard and started to have trouble breathing.

The doctor said he has asthma and needs to carry an inhaler with him.