呼吸

• Reading: こきゅう
• Romaji: kokyuu
• Kanji breakdown: 呼 (ko) — exhale, call; 吸 (kyū) — inhale, suck, absorb
• Pronunciation: /ko.kjɯː/

Meaning

Breathing; respiration. The physical act of inhaling and exhaling, or the rhythm and timing of an action.

A noun that also functions as a suru verb (呼吸する, to breathe). Beyond the literal meaning, frequently used figuratively to describe timing and coordination: 呼吸が合う (to be in sync), 呼吸を整える (to calm one's breathing/composure). Important in martial arts, yoga, meditation, and musical performance contexts.

Examples

1. 深く呼吸して気持ちを落ち着かせた。 I took a deep breath and calmed myself down.
2. 二人のダンサーは呼吸がぴったり合っている。 The two dancers are perfectly in sync with each other.
3. 激しい運動の後は呼吸が乱れる。 After intense exercise, your breathing gets out of rhythm.

Usage Guide

Context: health, sports, meditation

Tone: calm

Origin & History

Compound of 呼 (ko, to exhale/call) and 吸 (kyū, to inhale/suck). Together they capture the complete cycle of breathing — exhaling and inhaling.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal