A1 Idiom Neutre

息をのむ

iki o nomu

Catch one's breath

Phrase in 30 Seconds

Use this phrase when you see something so beautiful or shocking that you forget to breathe for a second.

  • Means: To gasp in surprise, fear, or admiration.
  • Used in: Describing breathtaking views, shocking news, or intense movie scenes.
  • Don't confuse: It is not used for physical suffocation or medical breathing issues.
😲 (Surprise) + 🌬️ (Breath) = 息をのむ

Explanation at your level:

This phrase means you are so surprised or amazed that you stop breathing for a second. Use it when you see something very beautiful.
It is an idiom used to express being stunned. Whether it is a beautiful sunset or a shocking event, your breath stops because of the strong emotion you feel in that moment.
This phrase describes a physiological reaction to intense stimuli. It is commonly used in narrative contexts to convey the gravity of a situation or the sheer scale of a visual experience, effectively bridging the gap between physical sensation and emotional impact.
Functioning as a metaphor for being rendered speechless, this idiom captures the intersection of aesthetic appreciation and psychological shock. It is frequently employed in descriptive writing to heighten the reader's sense of immersion by highlighting the subject's inability to process the intensity of the moment.
The idiom '息をのむ' serves as a linguistic marker for the 'sublime'—that which is so vast or intense it defies immediate verbal articulation. By invoking the somatic response of breath-holding, the speaker emphasizes the involuntary nature of their reaction, underscoring the profound impact of the external stimulus on their internal state.
From a cognitive linguistics perspective, this phrase exemplifies the 'Emotion as Physical Constraint' conceptual metaphor. It maps the abstract experience of awe or shock onto the concrete domain of respiratory inhibition. Its usage transcends simple description, functioning as an indexical sign of the subject's total cognitive absorption, thereby framing the experience as one that necessitates a pause in the normal flow of discourse.

Signification

To gasp in surprise or admiration.

🌍

Contexte culturel

In Japanese tea ceremonies or traditional arts, silence is highly valued. This phrase captures the 'moment of silence' that occurs when something is perfect. In Western cultures, 'breathtaking' is often used in marketing for products. In Japan, it is more often reserved for nature or art.

💡

Use with 'ような'

Add 'ような' to turn it into an adjective for nouns.

Signification

To gasp in surprise or admiration.

💡

Use with 'ような'

Add 'ような' to turn it into an adjective for nouns.

Teste-toi

Choose the correct phrase for being stunned by beauty.

その景色を見て、私は＿＿＿＿。

✓ Correct ! ✗ Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte : 息をのんだ

息をのんだ is the correct idiom for being stunned.

🎉 Score : /1

Aides visuelles

Questions fréquentes

1 questions

No, it works for fear and shock too.

Expressions liées

🔗

息をのむような

specialized form

Breathtaking

Où l'utiliser

🌅

Seeing a sunset

A: わあ、きれい！

B: 本当に、息をのむような夕日だね。

neutral
🎬

Watching a thriller

A: 今のシーン、すごかったね。

B: うん、思わず息をのんだよ。

informal

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Imagine you are swallowing a giant gulp of air because you are so surprised.

Visual Association

Picture yourself standing on a cliff edge looking at a sunset, your mouth slightly open, catching your breath.

Story

I walked into the grand cathedral. The stained glass was so beautiful that I stopped walking. I felt my chest tighten. I gasped, '息をのむ'—it was truly breathtaking.

Word Web

驚く感動景色緊張絶景瞬間

Défi

Find a photo of a beautiful place online and say '息をのむような景色だ' out loud.

In Other Languages

Spanish high

Dejar sin aliento

Spanish often uses it as a transitive verb (it leaves me), while Japanese uses it as an intransitive action.

French high

Couper le souffle

The verb 'couper' implies an external force, whereas 'のむ' is internal.

German moderate

Den Atem rauben

It is more aggressive than the Japanese version.

Japanese n/a

息をのむ

Focuses on the internal act of swallowing.

Arabic moderate

يخطف الأنفاس

It focuses on the speed of the action.

Easily Confused

息をのむ vs 息が詰まる

Both involve breath and emotion.

息が詰まる means to feel suffocated or stressed, not amazed.

FAQ (1)

No, it works for fear and shock too.

C'tait utile ?

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