ため息 30초 만에
- Tameiki means 'sigh' and is used for emotional releases of breath.
- Always pair it with the verb 'tsuku' (to sigh) or 'deru' (to escape/come out).
- It can represent negative feelings (tiredness) or positive ones (awe).
- Commonly seen in literature and anime as a sign of character emotion.
The Japanese word ため息 (tameiki) refers specifically to a 'sigh'. While it is often associated with negative emotions like disappointment, exhaustion, or frustration, it is a nuanced term that encompasses any long, audible breath released in response to an emotional state. The word is composed of the root of the verb tameru (to accumulate or hold) and iki (breath). Etymologically, it suggests a breath that has been held or built up inside due to emotional pressure and is finally released.
- Emotional Range
- In Japanese culture, a sigh is often seen as a physical manifestation of one's 'ki' (energy) escaping. People use it when they are tired after a long day of work, when they hear bad news, or even when they are struck by the overwhelming beauty of a sunset.
仕事が山積みで、思わずため息が出た。
(Work was piling up, and a sigh escaped without me thinking.)
Unlike a simple breath (iki), a tameiki is always communicative, even if unintentional. It signals to others that the person is experiencing a moment of internal weight. In social contexts, especially in Japan's high-context society, a well-timed sigh can convey more than a thousand words of complaint.
- Physical Action
- The act of sighing is almost always paired with the verb つく (tsuku). While 'tsuku' has many meanings, in this context, it refers to the act of breathing out or emitting. You don't 'do' a sigh in Japanese; you 'emit' or 'heave' it.
彼は深くため息をついて、部屋を出て行った。
(He let out a deep sigh and left the room.)
Using ため息 correctly requires understanding its primary collocations. The most common structure is [Noun] + を + つく. However, you will also frequently see [Noun] + が + 出る, which implies that the sigh happened spontaneously or uncontrollably.
- Active vs. Passive
- Use 'tsuku' when you want to emphasize the person performing the action (often consciously). Use 'deru' when the sigh is a natural reaction to a situation, like finding out your train was cancelled.
あまりの美しさに、観客からため息が漏れた。
(A sigh [of admiration] leaked from the audience due to the sheer beauty.)
Adverbs play a crucial role in describing the quality of the sigh. Common ones include 深く (fukaku - deeply), 小さく (chiisaku - softly/slightly), and 何度も (nandomo - repeatedly). These modifiers help define the emotional depth of the moment.
彼女はため息混じりに返事をした。
(She replied with a sigh mixed in [her voice].)
- The 'Majiri' Pattern
- The compound ため息混じり (tameiki-majiri) is a sophisticated way to describe an action done while sighing, indicating a mood of weariness or resignation.
You will encounter ため息 in virtually every medium of Japanese storytelling. In literature, it is a staple for characterization, showing a protagonist's inner turmoil without explicit dialogue. In manga and anime, a sigh is often visually represented by a small cloud coming out of a character's mouth.
- In Daily Life
- In offices, you might hear a colleague sighing over a difficult spreadsheet. In schools, students sigh when a surprise quiz is announced. It is a universal sound of the 'daily grind'.
「はぁ...」と大きなため息をつく。
(Letting out a big sigh like 'Haa...')
The word is also prominent in song lyrics, particularly in Enka (traditional-style ballads) and J-Pop, where it symbolizes longing, unrequited love, or the weight of memories. The phrase tameiki no deru you na (sigh-inducing) is a common idiomatic way to describe something breathtakingly beautiful or impressively skillful.
その宝石の輝きは、見る者すべてにため息をつかせた。
(The brilliance of those jewels made everyone who saw them sigh [in awe].)
The most frequent mistake learners make is confusing ため息 with other breath-related words like 深呼吸 (shinkokyuu). While both involve deep breathing, shinkokyuu is a deliberate, often healthy exercise (a deep breath), whereas tameiki is an emotional reaction (a sigh).
- Mistake: Using 'Suru'
- Learners often try to say 'tameiki-shimasu'. This is incorrect. Always use 'tameiki wo tsuku' or 'tameiki ga deru'.
× 彼はため息した。
○ 彼はため息をついた。
Another mistake is the nuance of 'relief'. In English, you might say 'a sigh of relief'. In Japanese, while anshin no tameiki exists, people often use the phrase ほっとする (hotto suru) or 胸をなでおろす (mune wo nadeorosu) to describe the feeling of relief itself. Using tameiki alone usually leans towards a negative or weary connotation unless context specifies otherwise.
- Mistake: Particle Confusion
- Don't confuse 'tameiki wo tsuku' (intentional/observational) with 'tameiki ni naru'. The latter is not a standard expression.
Japanese has several words for different types of breathing and emotional exhalations. Understanding the subtle differences will make your Japanese sound much more natural.
- 吐息 (Toiki)
- Often used in poetic or romantic contexts. It refers to a soft breath, sometimes a sigh, but usually one that is more delicate or intimate than a standard 'tameiki'.
- 深呼吸 (Shinkokyuu)
- A deep breath. This is a neutral or positive action, often done for health, relaxation, or to prepare oneself for a challenge.
- 溜息 (Tameiki - Kanji Variation)
- Sometimes the first character is written with the kanji 溜 (tame - to accumulate). This emphasizes the 'accumulation' of feeling before the release.
緊張をほぐすために、大きく深呼吸した。
(I took a big deep breath to ease my tension.)
How Formal Is It?
재미있는 사실
The kanji 溜 (tame) used in some variations of the word is the same one used in 'tame-mizu' (stagnant water), emphasizing the idea of something being held back until it overflows.
발음 가이드
- Pronouncing 'ei' as a long 'e' (like English 'take'). In Japanese, 'e' and 'i' are separate sounds here.
- Treating it as three syllables (ta-mei-ki). It is four: ta-me-i-ki.
- Stressing the first syllable like English. Japanese uses pitch, not stress.
- Mispronouncing 'ki' as 'kee' with a very long 'e'.
- Mumbling the 'i' sound.
난이도
The kanji are moderate difficulty (N3 level), but often written in hiragana.
Writing the kanji '息' is easy, but '溜' or '嘆' in synonyms is harder.
The pronunciation is straightforward, but the verb 'tsuku' must be remembered.
Easy to recognize in speech due to the distinct 'ta-me-i-ki' rhythm.
다음에 무엇을 배울까
선수 학습
다음에 배울 것
고급
수준별 예문
彼はためいきをつきました。
He let out a sigh.
Uses the basic 'tameiki wo tsuku' pattern.
ためいきはだめですよ。
Don't sigh, okay?
Informal 'dame' structure.
大きなためいきが出ました。
A big sigh came out.
Uses 'ga deru' for a natural occurrence.
どうしてためいきをつくの？
Why do you sigh?
Question form with 'no'.
彼女は小さいためいきをついた。
She let out a small sigh.
Adjective 'chiisai' modifying the noun.
テストのあとで、ためいきをついた。
After the test, I sighed.
Time marker 'no ato de'.
お父さんはためいきをついています。
Dad is sighing.
Present continuous '-te iru'.
ためいきをつかないでください。
Please do not sigh.
Negative request '-naide kudasai'.
宿題が多くて、ため息をついた。
I sighed because there was so much homework.
Reasoning with '-te' form.
彼は悲しそうにため息をついた。
He sighed sadly.
Adverbial use of 'kanashisou ni'.
ため息をつくと、幸せが逃げますよ。
If you sigh, happiness will escape.
Conditional 'to' for natural consequences.
仕事が終わって、深いため息をついた。
Work finished, and I let out a deep sigh.
Use of 'fukaku' (deeply).
母はため息をつきながら、掃除をした。
My mother cleaned while sighing.
Simultaneous action '-nagara'.
どこからかため息が聞こえてきた。
I heard a sigh from somewhere.
Passive-like 'kikoete kita'.
そんなにため息をつかないで。
Don't sigh so much.
Informal negative request '-naide'.
彼は一つため息をついて、話し始めた。
He gave one sigh and started talking.
Counter 'hitotsu' used for the sigh.
あまりの忙しさに、ついのため息が漏れた。
A sigh accidentally leaked out due to being so busy.
Use of 'moreta' (leaked).
彼女はため息混じりの声で「疲れた」と言った。
She said 'I'm tired' with a voice mixed with sighs.
Compound noun 'tameiki-majiri'.
何度ため息をついても、悩みは消えない。
No matter how many times I sigh, my worries won't disappear.
Concessive 'te mo' (even if/no matter).
彼はがっかりした様子で、深いため息をついた。
He let out a deep sigh, looking disappointed.
Describing state with 'yousu de'.
ため息をつく暇もないほど忙しい。
I'm so busy I don't even have time to sigh.
Comparative 'hodo' (to the extent of).
その絶景に、思わずため息が出た。
A sigh escaped me at the sight of that superb view.
Adverb 'omowazu' (unintentionally).
彼はため息をついて、窓の外を眺めた。
He sighed and gazed out the window.
Sequence of actions with '-te'.
そんなにため息をつくと、周りの人も暗くなるよ。
If you sigh that much, the people around you will get gloomy too.
Conditional 'to' for social result.
彼の説明を聞いて、一同はため息をついた。
Hearing his explanation, everyone let out a sigh.
Collective noun 'ichidou' (everyone).
ため息をつくのは、ストレスが溜まっている証拠だ。
Sighing is evidence that stress is accumulating.
Nominalizing with 'no wa'.
彼女のため息には、言葉にできない寂しさが含まれていた。
In her sigh, there was a loneliness that couldn't be put into words.
Relative clause 'kotoba ni dekinai'.
ため息をつくことで、少しだけ気持ちが楽になった。
By sighing, my feelings became just a little lighter.
Method/means indicated by 'koto de'.
彼は自分の不甲斐なさに、大きなため息をついた。
He let out a big sigh at his own worthlessness.
Reason indicated by 'ni'.
その演奏は、聴衆にため息をつかせるほど完璧だった。
The performance was so perfect it made the audience sigh.
Causative 'tsukaseru'.
ふとした瞬間にため息が出るのは、疲れのせいだろう。
Sighing at unexpected moments is probably due to fatigue.
Attributing cause with 'no sei da'.
彼女はため息をのみ込んで、笑顔を作った。
She swallowed her sigh and forced a smile.
Compound verb 'nomikomu' (to swallow/suppress).
都会の喧騒の中で、彼はそっとため息を漏らした。
In the hustle and bustle of the city, he quietly let out a sigh.
Literary verb 'morasu' (to leak/let out).
その壮大な建築を前にして、感嘆のため息が漏れた。
A sigh of admiration escaped before that magnificent architecture.
Compound 'kantan no tameiki'.
ため息をつくという行為は、一種の感情の排泄である。
The act of sighing is a kind of emotional excretion.
Apposition 'to iu koui'.
彼は諦念の入り混じったため息をつき、筆を置いた。
He let out a sigh mixed with resignation and put down his pen.
Noun phrase 'teinen no hairimajitta'.
ため息一つで、その場の空気が一変した。
With a single sigh, the atmosphere of the place changed completely.
Emphasis with 'hitotsu de'.
静寂を破るように、重苦しいため息が響いた。
A heavy sigh echoed, as if to break the silence.
Simile 'yousu ni' (as if to).
政治の現状に対し、国民からはため息しか出ない。
Regarding the current state of politics, only sighs come from the citizens.
Limitation 'shika ... nai'.
彼女のため息は、深い絶望の淵から湧き上がってきたようだった。
Her sigh seemed to well up from the depths of deep despair.
Metaphorical 'fuchi kara wakiagatte'.
万感の思いを込めたため息が、静寂の中に消えていった。
A sigh filled with a flood of emotions vanished into the silence.
Idiomatic 'bankan no omoi'.
ため息をつくという生理現象に、日本人は独自の美学を見出してきた。
Japanese people have found a unique aesthetic in the physiological phenomenon of sighing.
Academic 'miidashite kita'.
彼のつくため息は、言葉以上に雄弁に彼の苦悩を物語っていた。
The sighs he let out told of his suffering more eloquently than words.
Adverbial 'yuuben ni'.
溜息という文字が示す通り、それは蓄積された感情の吐露である。
As indicated by the characters for 'tameiki', it is an outpouring of accumulated emotions.
Explanatory 'ga shimesu toori'.
人生の黄昏時に、彼は自らの歩みを振り返り、長いため息をついた。
In the twilight of his life, he looked back on his journey and let out a long sigh.
Metaphorical 'tasogaredoki'.
その詩篇は、ため息の韻律を借りて人生の無常を謳っている。
That psalm sings of the impermanence of life, borrowing the rhythm of a sigh.
Literary 'mujou wo utatte iru'.
ため息を禁じ得ないほどの惨状が、そこには広がっていた。
A scene of such devastation that one could not help but sigh lay before them.
Formal 'kinji enai'.
彼女の吐いたため息は、夜の闇に吸い込まれるように消えた。
The sigh she exhaled vanished as if sucked into the darkness of the night.
Passive-like 'suikomareru'.
자주 쓰는 조합
자주 쓰는 구문
— A common superstition meaning 'If you sigh, your happiness will escape'.
ため息をつくと幸せが逃げるよ、笑って！
— Used to describe something (usually speech) done while sighing.
彼女はため息交じりに返事をした。
— A heavy or loud sigh.
彼は大きなため息をついて座り込んだ。
— A short or quiet sigh.
彼女は小さいため息をついて、本を閉じた。
— To do nothing but sigh.
最近の彼はため息ばかりついている。
— To let a sigh escape (often unintentionally).
彼は思わずため息を漏らした。
— Just one sigh.
ため息一つで、彼の気持ちがわかった。
— To make someone sigh (often with admiration).
その美しさは見る人をため息をつかせる。
— A view so beautiful it makes you sigh.
山頂からはため息の出るような絶景が広がっていた。
— To the extent that one sighs.
ため息が出るほど、その仕事は大変だった。
관용어 및 표현
— A cultural belief that sighing brings bad luck or drives away happiness.
そんなにため息をつかないで。幸せが逃げちゃうよ。
Casual/Advice— Extremely beautiful or impressive.
彼女はため息の出るようなドレスを着ていた。
Common— A sigh of admiration.
その絵画の前に立つと、感嘆のため息が出る。
Formal— A sigh expressing dissatisfaction.
彼は不満のため息をつきながら、書類を修正した。
Common— A sigh of resignation.
彼女はあきらめのため息をつき、手を振った。
Common— A sigh of relief.
試験が終わって、安堵のため息をついた。
Neutral— To suppress a sigh.
彼女はため息を呑み込んで、毅然とした態度をとった。
Literary— To do nothing but sigh for a period of time.
彼は一日中ため息をつき通していた。
Emphatic— To induce a sigh (often due to beauty or sadness).
悲劇的な結末は、観客のため息を誘った。
Formal— To spend one's days in sighs (very sad).
恋人を失い、彼女はため息に暮れる日々を送った。
Poetic어휘 가족
명사
동사
형용사
관련
암기하기
기억법
Think of 'TAME' (like taming a beast) and 'IKI' (breath). You are trying to 'tame' your emotions by letting out a 'breath'.
시각적 연상
Imagine a person holding a large balloon (the accumulated emotion) and then slowly letting the air out with a 'psssst' sound.
Word Web
챌린지
Try to use 'tameiki wo tsuku' in a sentence describing your feelings after a long Japanese study session.
어원
The word is a compound of the verb 'tameru' (to accumulate/store) and the noun 'iki' (breath). It literally means 'accumulated breath'.
원래 의미: A breath that has been held or stored up before being released.
Japonic문화적 맥락
Be careful not to sigh loudly during a formal business meeting in Japan, as it may be interpreted as a sign of boredom or extreme dissatisfaction with the proceedings.
In English, a sigh of relief is very common. In Japanese, while 'anshin no tameiki' exists, relief is often expressed with onomatopoeia like 'hotto'.
실생활에서 연습하기
실제 사용 상황
At the Office
- 仕事が終わらなくて、ため息が出る。
- 上司の小言にため息をつく。
- パソコンが壊れてため息をついた。
- 残業続きでため息しか出ない。
Watching a Beautiful Sunset
- あまりの美しさにため息が漏れた。
- 感嘆のため息をつく。
- ため息の出るような絶景だ。
- 思わずため息が出る美しさ。
After Hearing Bad News
- 彼は深くため息をついて黙り込んだ。
- がっかりしてため息をつく。
- ため息混じりに「残念だ」と言う。
- ニュースを見てため息が出た。
Relief after a Test
- やっと終わって、安心のため息をついた。
- 安堵のため息を漏らす。
- ホッとしてため息が出た。
- 試験の結果を見て、ため息をついた。
Daily Superstition
Summary
ため息 (Tameiki) is the Japanese word for 'sigh'. Remember the essential phrase 'ため息をつく' (tameiki wo tsuku) to mean 'to sigh'. It is a powerful word for expressing internal feelings like exhaustion or admiration without using many words.
- Tameiki means 'sigh' and is used for emotional releases of breath.
- Always pair it with the verb 'tsuku' (to sigh) or 'deru' (to escape/come out).
- It can represent negative feelings (tiredness) or positive ones (awe).
- Commonly seen in literature and anime as a sign of character emotion.
예시
彼は大きなため息をついた。
관련 콘텐츠
emotions 관련 단어
ぼんやり
B1어렴풋이; 멍하니. 형체나 색깔이 분명하지 않은 상태나 정신이 나간 상태를 나타냅니다.
夢中
B1Absorption; engrossment; infatuation.
受け止める
B1날아오는 물건을 받아서 멈추게 하다. 또는 상대방의 의견이나 감정을 진지하게 수용하다.
達成感
B1목표를 달성하거나 어려운 과제를 마쳤을 때 느끼는 만족감과 뿌듯함입니다. 노력에 대한 보상입니다.
ひしひしと
B1Acutely; keenly; strongly (feeling something).
適応する
B1새로운 환경에 적응하는 것이 성공의 열쇠입니다.
健気な
B2어리거나 약한 사람이 어려운 상황에서도 굴하지 않고 씩씩하고 기특하게 행동하는 모양.
感心な
B1감탄할 만함; 기특함. '부모님을 돕는 기특한 아이다.' '그의 공부 태도는 정말 감탄할 만하다.'
感心
B1다른 사람의 훌륭한 행동이나 생각에 마음이 움직여 감탄함.
感心する
B1사람의 행동이나 능력이 뛰어나서 마음속으로 깊이 느끼는 것.
