ぜいぜい

ぜいぜい
adverb
wheezing; panting; gasping for breath
1. wheezing; panting; gasping for breath
A mimetic word representing the harsh, rasping sound of labored breathing, whether from physical exertion or a respiratory condition like asthma.
ぜいぜいと(いき)をしている。
He is wheezing.
階段(かいだん)(のぼ)ったら、ぜいぜい()(はじ)めた。
After climbing the stairs, I started wheezing.
風邪(かぜ)をひいてから(むね)がぜいぜいして、(よる)もよく(ねむ)れなかった。
Since catching a cold, my chest has been wheezing and I haven't been able to sleep well at night.

An onomatopoeic word (giongo) that mimics the sound of labored, wheezy breathing. It represents a harsh, rasping sound in the throat or chest.

USAGE:

  • ぜいぜい(と)(いき)をする: to breathe wheezily
  • ぜいぜい()う: to wheeze (literally "to say zeizei")
  • (むね)がぜいぜいする: one's chest wheezes
  • Can describe both temporary breathlessness (from exercise) and chronic conditions (asthma)

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • ぜいぜいと(いき)をする: to breathe with wheezing
  • ぜいぜい()う: to wheeze
  • 喘息(ぜんそく)でぜいぜいする: to wheeze from asthma
  • ぜいぜいしながら(はし)る: to run while wheezing

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • はあはあ: panting, heavy breathing — from exertion, not necessarily wheezy
  • ぜえぜえ: variant of ぜいぜい; essentially the same meaning
  • ひゅうひゅう: whistling sound of wind or breathing through a narrow passage