Japanese

をのむ

いきをのむ
Meaning: to hold one's breath; to be breathless with surprise or fear
Part of Speech: Verb

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Verb inflections

Form Affirmative Negative
Present 息をのむ 息をのまない
Polite 息をのみます 息をのみません
Past 息をのんだ 息をのまなかった
Polite + Past 息をのみました 息をのみませんでした
Te-form 息をのんで 息をのまなくて
Potential 息をのめる 息をのめない
Passive 息をのまれる 息をのまれない
Causative 息をのませる 息をのませない
Causative + Passive 息をのまされる 息をのまされない
Imperative 息をのめ 息をのむな

Handwriting

息
を
の
む

Example

The audience held their breath at the beautiful performance.

Usage Notes

Used when one is so surprised or moved that they momentarily stop breathing.

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