息 means “breath, rest, son”

いき · iki

Also: respiration, interest (on money)

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)

いき

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

ソク

JLPT N3 · Taught in grade 3 · 10 strokes

The story

自 began as a drawing of a nose; set over the heart (心), it shows air moving from nose to chest: breath. 息 is breath, ため息 a sigh, 休息 a pause to catch it, and, curiously, 息子 is a son.

Used in 息 (iki, breath), 息子 (musuko, son), and ため息 (tameiki, sigh)

More from Life & Breath

• 吸 inhale
• 祖 ancestor
• 腹 belly
• 眠 sleep
• 活 lively
• 歳 age
• 身 body
• 若 young
• 命 life
• 亡 pass away
• 老 old age
• 抱 hug

Learn 息 and more kanji free on Fuji Learning · All kanji

Readings from KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, CC BY-SA.