溜息(ためいき)

ためいき
noun
sigh
1. sigh
A long, deep breath expressing sadness, tiredness, relief, or longing.
疲(つか)れて溜息(ためいき)をついた。
I sighed from exhaustion.
彼女(かのじょ)の美(うつく)しさに溜息(ためいき)が出(で)た。
Her beauty made me sigh.
深(ふか)い溜息(ためいき)をつく。
I let out a deep sigh.
仕事(しごと)が終(お)わらなくて、思(おも)わず溜息(ためいき)が出(で)た。
The work wasn't getting done, and I involuntarily let out a sigh.
景色(けしき)があまりにも美(うつく)しくて、溜息(ためいき)が出(で)るほどだった。
The scenery was so beautiful that it made me sigh.

溜息(ためいき) means a sigh — a long, deep breath expressing various emotions. Often written in hiragana as ため息(いき).

Common expressions

  • 溜息(ためいき)をつく: to sigh (deliberate or habitual)
  • 溜息(ためいき)が出(で)る: to sigh (involuntarily)
  • 深(ふか)い溜息(ためいき): a deep sigh
  • 溜息(ためいき)まじりに: with a sigh, sigh-tinged
  • 溜息(ためいき)が出(で)るほど: so [beautiful/bad] that it makes you sigh

USAGE (feelings a sigh expresses):

  • Tiredness, exhaustion
  • Sadness, disappointment, frustration
  • Relief (after tension passes)
  • Admiration, being impressed (美(うつく)しさに溜息(ためいき)が出(で)る = sigh at the beauty)

Cultural note

There is a common saying: 溜息(ためいき)をつくと幸(しあわ)せが逃(に)げる (if you sigh, happiness will run away). Frequent sighing is sometimes seen as bringing bad luck or lowering the mood of those around you.

core
Added 2026.1.14 9:33 · Revised 2026.10.10 17:17
04500/04502_tameiki