Translation and Meaning of: 息 - iki

If you are studying Japanese, you may have come across the kanji 息 (いき), which means "breath" or "tone." But do you know how it originated, how it is used in everyday life, or even how to memorize it effectively? In this article, we will explore everything about this word, from its etymology to cultural curiosities that make it special. Furthermore, you will discover how Suki Nihongo, the largest online Japanese dictionary, can help you with practical examples and ready-made phrases to include in your Anki or other spaced repetition systems.

Etymology and origin of the kanji 息

The kanji 息 is composed of two radicals: 自 (oneself) and 心 (heart). Together, they form the idea of something that comes from within, like the air that leaves the lungs. It is no coincidence that this character represents both physical breath and the emotional "breath," as when we say someone is lacking spirit (息切れ).

In ancient China, this ideogram was already used to describe the act of breathing, but the Japanese gave it a broader meaning. For example, in expressions like 息を殺す (to hold one's breath), the kanji takes on an almost dramatic tone, showing how the language uniquely absorbed and adapted the character.

Everyday use and popular expressions

In Japan, 息 appears in situations ranging from the basics ("take a deep breath" = 息を深く吸って) to poetic metaphors. One of my favorites is 息が合う, which describes when two people work in perfect harmony — literally, "their breaths fit together." Have you ever tried cooking with someone and everything flowed magically? That's 息が合う in action.

Another interesting use is in music. When a singer holds a note for a long time, the Japanese praise their 息の長さ (literally "long breath"). And don't think this is limited to artists — in the office, projects that require persistence can also be referred to this way. Who hasn't heard a boss say "we need a 息の長い effort on this project"?

Tips for memorization and curiosities

To not forget this kanji, an infallible technique is to associate the radical 自 with the nose (after all, that's where the air enters) and 心 with the lungs. Visualize the air leaving your body like an arrow: first through the nose, then filling the chest. This mental image helps to fix both the writing and the meaning.

A little-known fact that few people know: in some regional dialects, 息 can be used as slang for "pause" or "rest". I've seen an elderly person in Osaka say "ちょっと息入れよう" (let's take a breather) instead of the traditional 休憩. And if you're a fan of manga, notice how exhausted characters often let out a はぁーっ (haaa) — this onomatopoeia is the sound representation of 息 being released with fatigue.

Lastly, it's worth noting that this kanji is so versatile that it even appears in proper names, such as 息吹 (Ibuki), which carries the beautiful image of "breath of life." It’s no wonder that many artists and writers love to play with its multiple meanings in the most creative metaphors.

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Synonyms and similar words

• 呼吸 (kokyuu) - Breathing
• 呼吸する (kokyuu suru) - Breathe deeply
• 吸い込む (suikomu) - Inhaler
• 吸う (suu) - Breathe / Inhale
• 呼気 (kokki) - Expiration
• 吸気 (suuki) - inspiration
• 息をする (iki o suru) - Breathe
• 息を吐く (iki o haku) - Expel the air
• 息を呑む (iki o nomu) - Swallowing hard (from surprise or fear)
• 息を止める (iki o tomeru) - Hold your breath
• 息を潜める (iki o hisomeru) - Breathe gently (in secret)
• 息を殺す (iki o korosu) - Holding your breath (being silent)
• 息を切らす (iki o kirasu) - Out of breath
• 息を合わせる (iki o awaseru) - Synchronize the breath
• 息を吹きかける (iki o fukikakeru) - Blow air

息

Romaji: iki
Kana: いき
Type: noun
L: jlpt-n3

Translation / Meaning: breathing; tone

Meaning in English: breath;tone

Definition: Breathing. The action of living organisms that absorb oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide.

Example Sentences - (息) iki

See below some example sentences:

稍微休息一下吧。

Shoumi kyuusoku hitotsu kudasai

Rest a little.

Rest a little.

• 稍微 - a little
• 休息 - rest
• 一下 - for a moment
• 吧 - particle that indicates suggestion or request

休息は大切です。

Kyūsoku wa taisetsu desu

Resting is important.

Resting is important.

• 休息 - means "rest" in Japanese
• は - grammatical particle that indicates the topic of the sentence
• 大切 - means "important" or "precious" in Japanese
• です - verb "to be" in the present, indicating an affirmation

圧迫されると息苦しくなる。

Appaku sareru to ikigurushiku naru

When I'm under pressure

It becomes muffled when compressed.

• Input - - indicates that the next line contains the input.
• 圧迫される - a Japanese word meaning "to be pressed".
• と - Japanese particle that indicates a connection between two things or events.
• 息苦しく - a Japanese word meaning "to feel short of breath".
• なる - a Japanese word meaning "to become".
• Output - - indicates that the next line contains the output or result.

この川の流域には多くの野生動物が生息しています。

Kono kawa no ryūiki ni wa ōku no yasei dōbutsu ga seisoku shite imasu

Many wild animals inhabit this river basin.

• この川の流域には - indicates the location where something is located, in this case, the watershed of this river
• 多くの - "muitos" em japonês significa "多く" (おおく, ooku).
• 野生動物 - Wild animals
• が - particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
• 生息しています - verb that means "to inhabit" or "to live in a certain place"

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".

溜息をつく。

Tameiki wo tsuku

Sigh.

• 溜息 - "suspiro"
• を - direct object particle
• つく - "give a sigh"

私の息子はとてもかわいいです。

Watashi no musuko wa totemo kawaii desu

My son is very cute.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• の (no) - particle that indicates possession, in this case "mine"
• 息子 (musuko) - noun that means "son"
• は (wa) - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case "my son"
• とても (totemo) - adverb meaning "very"
• かわいい (kawaii) - adjective meaning "cute" or "pretty"
• です (desu) - auxiliary verb that indicates the present tense and formality of the sentence

私はあなたからの消息を待っています。

Watashi wa anata kara no shōsai o matte imasu

I'm waiting for news from you.

I'm waiting for you to inhabit it.

• 私 (watashi) - signifies "I" in Japanese
• は (wa) - Japanese topic particle
• あなた (anata) - It means "you" in Japanese.
• から (kara) - means "from" in Japanese
• の (no) - Possession particle in Japanese
• 消息 (shousoku) - means "news" in Japanese
• を (wo) - Direct Object Particle in Japanese
• 待っています (matteimasu) - It means "I am waiting" in Japanese.

私の子息は将来有望な若者です。

Watashi no musuko wa shourai yuubou na wakamono desu

My son is a promising young man for the future.

My son is a young man with promise for the future.

• 私 - personal pronoun that means "I"
• の - particle that indicates possession, equivalent to "of"
• 子息 - noun that means "son"
• は - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, equivalent to "is"
• 将来 - noun meaning "future"
• 有望 - adjective that means "promising"
• な - particle that connects the adjective to the noun, equivalent to "of"
• 若者 - noun that means "young"
• です - verb that indicates the polite form of the present, equivalent to "is"

本国の文化は多様で美しいです。

Honkoku no bunka wa tayou de utsukushii desu

The culture of the home country is diverse and beautiful.

• 本国 - It means "country of origin" or "home country".
• の - Title that indicates possession or expiration.
• 文化 - refers to the culture of a people or nation.
• は - particle that indicates the main theme of the sentence.
• 多様 - means "diverse" or "varied".
• で - particle that indicates the means or way in which something is done.
• 美しい - Adjective that means "beautiful" or "pretty".
• です - verb "to be" in the polite or formal form.