息(いき)を切(き)らす

いきをきらす
expression
to be out of breath; to pant
health
1. to be out of breath; to pant; to gasp for air
To become breathless from physical exertion such as running, climbing, or heavy exercise. Often used in the て-form (息(いき)を切(き)らして) to describe someone's state while doing something.
息(いき)を切(き)らして走(はし)る。
To run gasping for breath.
階段(かいだん)を上(のぼ)って息(いき)を切(き)らしていた。
I was out of breath from climbing the stairs.
彼(かれ)は息(いき)を切(き)らしながら遅刻(ちこく)の言(い)い訳(わけ)を始(はじ)めた。
He started making excuses for being late while gasping for breath.

Literally "to cut off one's breath." The most common form is 息(いき)を切(き)らして (te-form), used to describe someone who is panting or breathless while doing something else.

Common patterns

  • 息(いき)を切(き)らして + verb: doing something while out of breath
  • 息(いき)を切(き)らしながら: while panting
  • 息(いき)を切(き)らした様子(ようす)で: looking out of breath

Similar words

  • 息切(いきぎ)れ: shortness of breath — the noun form; can also refer to a medical symptom
  • 息(いき)が上(あ)がる: to be out of breath — similar meaning, slightly more literary
  • ゼーゼーする: to wheeze — onomatopoeic, emphasizes the sound of labored breathing
  • はあはあする: to pant — onomatopoeic, lighter than ゼーゼー

Related Words

Compare: 息切(いきぎ)れ (shortness of breath)
general
Added 2026.4.8 6:09 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02
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