呼吸する

§ What does it mean and when do people use it?

The Japanese verb 呼吸する (こきゅうする - kokyuu suru) literally means 'to breathe' or 'to respire'. It's a very straightforward and practical word. You'll use it anytime you need to talk about the physical act of breathing, whether it's by humans, animals, or even in a more metaphorical sense.

Think about everyday situations: a doctor talking about a patient's breathing, someone exercising and trying to control their breath, or even just noticing that it's good to be alive and able to breathe. This is the verb you'll reach for.

Because it's a 'suru' verb, 呼吸する follows a common pattern in Japanese where a noun (in this case, 呼吸 - kokyuu, meaning 'breath' or 'respiration') is combined with the verb する (suru, 'to do') to create a verb. This is a very common way to form verbs in Japanese, and you'll see it a lot with words borrowed from Chinese or with more formal or technical terms.

Let's break down the components:

• 呼吸 (こきゅう - kokyuu): This is the noun meaning 'breath' or 'respiration'.

• する (suru): This is the verb 'to do'.

So, 呼吸する literally means 'to do breathing' or 'to perform respiration'.

It's important to remember that while 息をする (iki o suru) also means 'to breathe', 呼吸する is often used in more formal, medical, or scientific contexts. However, it's also perfectly fine in casual conversation when you want to be precise about the act of breathing.

DEFINITION

To breathe; to respire.

HINT

When you breathe deeply, you calm down.

HINT

The baby was breathing quietly.

You'll often hear 呼吸する in discussions about health, exercise, meditation, or even when describing the atmosphere of a place. For instance, a place where it's hard to breathe would naturally use this verb.

Understanding 呼吸する is essential for expressing basic biological functions and related concepts. It's a foundational word for building more complex sentences about physical states and actions.

When you're practicing, try to use it in different tenses and politeness levels. For example:

• Present: 呼吸します (kokyuu shimasu - formal), 呼吸する (kokyuu suru - casual)

• Past: 呼吸しました (kokyuu shimashita - formal), 呼吸した (kokyuu shita - casual)

• Negative: 呼吸しません (kokyuu shimasen - formal), 呼吸しない (kokyuu shinai - casual)

Mastering these forms will allow you to talk about breathing in various situations. Pay attention to how native speakers use it in dramas, news, or everyday conversations, and you'll quickly get a feel for its natural usage.