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 (息を切らして) to describe someone's state while doing something.
息を切らして走る。
To run gasping for breath.
階段を上って息を切らしていた。
I was out of breath from climbing the stairs.
彼は息を切らしながら遅刻の言い訳を始めた。
He started making excuses for being late while gasping for breath.
Literally "to cut off one's breath." The most common form is 息を切らして (te-form), used to describe someone who is panting or breathless while doing something else.
COMMON PATTERNS:
- 息を切らして + verb: doing something while out of breath
- 息を切らしながら: while panting
- 息を切らした様子で: looking out of breath
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 息切れ: shortness of breath — the noun form; can also refer to a medical symptom
- 息が上がる: 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