How to say "breath" in Japanese

• 息いきJLPT N3approx.Common
  nounThe everyday word for breath in the physical sense, and for breathing itself: taking a breath, holding one's breath, one's breathing. This is the word you want for nearly all literal uses.
  おぼれかけた人ひとは息いきを吹き返ふきかえした。↗

  The man who nearly drowned began to breathe.
• 息吹いぶきCommon
  nounA literary word meaning breath in a figurative sense — the breath of life, spring's breath, the breath of a new era. It is not used for a literal puff of breath; for that, 息 is the natural choice.

Use 息 for ordinary breath or breathing; use 息吹 when breath is meant figuratively, as a sign of life, vigor, or the spirit of something.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 息いきbreath
• 息吹いぶきbreath
• ブレスbreath
• 気息きそくbreathing