息を呑む

• 読み: いきをのむ
• ローマ字: iki wo nomu
• 漢字の分解: 息 (soku/iki) — breath; 呑 (don/no) — swallow, gulp
• 発音: /i.ki.o.no.mɯ/

意味

To gasp; to have one's breath taken away. The involuntary catching of breath from surprise, shock, or awe.

An expression using Group 1 (godan) verb 呑む (to swallow). Describes the moment when something so surprising, beautiful, or shocking occurs that one involuntarily holds their breath. The kanji 呑む is preferred over 飲む here as it carries a more dramatic, literary tone.

例文

1. 観客は美しい演技に息を呑んだ。
2. 息を呑むような絶景が広がっていた。
3. その知らせを聞いて、みんな息を呑んでいた。

使い方ガイド

場面: scenery, performances, shocking events

トーン: dramatic

起源と歴史

Literally means to swallow one's breath. The image of breath being swallowed back captures the involuntary gasp response. The kanji 呑 originally depicted a person swallowing, distinct from 飲 which focused on drinking liquids.

文化的背景

時代: Classical

世代: All ages

社会的背景: Universal