息が詰まる

• Reading: いきがつまる
• Romaji: iki ga tsumaru
• Kanji breakdown: 息 (soku/iki) — breath; 詰 (kitsu/tsu) — packed, stuffed, blocked
• Pronunciation: /i.ki.ɡa.t͡sɯ.ma.ɾɯ/

Meaning

To choke; to have trouble breathing. Also used figuratively for stifling or suffocating situations.

An expression using Group 1 (godan) verb 詰まる (to be packed, to be clogged). Has both a literal meaning of difficulty breathing and a figurative meaning of feeling emotionally suffocated by oppressive environments, tension, or monotony. The figurative use is more common.

Examples

1. 緊張のあまり息が詰まりそうだった。 I was so nervous I could barely breathe.
2. 毎日同じことの繰り返しで息が詰まる。 Doing the same thing every single day is suffocating.
3. 息が詰まるような暑さの中で作業を続けた。 We kept working through the stifling heat.

Usage Guide

Context: daily life, emotions, workplace

Tone: stressed

Origin & History

Combines 息 (breath) with 詰まる (to be blocked, to be stuffed). The image of breath being blocked in the throat captures both physical choking and the psychological feeling of suffocation.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal