Translation and Meaning of: ほっと - hoto

The Japanese word 「ほっと」 (hoto) is an expression that conveys the idea of relief or a sense of lightness after the resolution of a concern or stressful situation. In everyday speech, this interjection is often used to express a sigh of relief when something concludes positively or when an anticipated outcome finally materializes, bringing peace of mind to the speaker.

From an etymological point of view, 「ほっと」 does not have a complex origin or is not directly derived from traditional kanji. Instead, it is more of an example of an onomatopoeia in Japanese, similar to many others that try to capture feelings and sensations through sound. The term attempts to imitate the sound of a sigh, a kind of relieved breath that occurs naturally when someone feels better after a moment of tension.

In addition to its use as an interjection, 「ほっと」 also appears in other expressions or phrases in the Japanese language. For example, it can be combined in contexts to amplify the feeling of relief or calmness. It is not uncommon to find such expressions in mangas, anime, or dramas, where characters are often depicted reacting genuinely to the dramatic situations in the narrative.

Vocabulary

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Synonyms and similar words

• 安堵 (ANDO) - Feeling of relief and security.
• 安心 (ANSHIN) - Calmness and the feeling that everything is under control.
• 安らぎ (Yasuragi) - Inner peace and calm.
• 安楽 (ANRAKU) - Comfort and well-being.
• 満足 (MANZOKU) - Satisfaction in a full state.
• 満足感 (MANZOKU-KAN) - Feeling of satisfaction, the emotion associated with being content.
• 心地よさ (KIMOCHI YOSA) - Comfort and pleasant sensation.
• ほっとする感じ (HOTTOSU R KANJI) - Sense of relaxation and relief.

ほっと

Romaji: hoto
Kana: ほっと
Type: noun
L: jlpt-n1

Translation / Meaning: feel relieved

Meaning in English: feel relieved

Definition: Feeling peace and security

Example Sentences - (ほっと) hoto

See below some example sentences:

ぼつぼつと歩く

botsu botsu to aruku

walk slowly and with difficulty.

to walk

• ぼつぼつと - botsu botsu to - irregularly, bumpily
• 歩く - walk - to walk

ポットでお茶を入れます。

Potto de ocha wo iremasu

I'm going to make tea in the teapot.

Put tea in the pot.

• ポット (potto) - It means "jar" or "pot" in Japanese.
• で (de) - a particle that indicates the location where the action takes place, in this case, "in"
• お茶 (ocha) - means "tea" in Japanese
• を (wo) - a particle that indicates the direct object of the action, in this case, "the tea"
• 入れます (iremasu) - a verb that means "put" or "prepare", in this case, "prepare the tea in the pitcher"

ほっと一息つく

Hotto isshoku tsuku

It means "Take a deep breath and relax".

Give a break

• ほっと - Japanese expression that indicates relief, relaxation
• 一息 - Japanese expression meaning "a sigh", "a breath"
• つく - Japanese verb that means "rest", "stop".