JLPT N3 · Japanese kanji
息 — breath
- Reading
- ソク・いき
- Meaning
- breath; respiration; son; interest
- JLPT level
- N3
- Language
- Japanese
About this kanji
息 is a japanese kanji character commonly studied at the JLPT N3 level. Its primary reading is ソク・いき and it means breath; respiration; son; interest. To master it, see it in real Japanese content — import an article or YouTube video into InputDojo and every occurrence becomes a one-tap lookup.
息 appears in everyday japanese words such as 息 (breath), 一息 (a breath; a short break) and 利息 (interest).
Japanese words containing 息
Frequently asked questions
What does 息 mean in Japanese?
息 means breath; respiration; son; interest in Japanese. It is one of the JLPT N3 kanji every learner meets at that level.
How is 息 read?
息 is read ソク・いき. Reading it inside real words — 息 and 一息 and more — is the fastest way to remember it.
What level is 息 — is it JLPT N3?
Yes. 息 is on the official JLPT N3 kanji list, so it can appear in that exam's reading and vocabulary sections.
How do you use 息 in a word?
A common word containing 息 is 息 (いき) — "breath". More examples are listed below, each with a one-tap dictionary entry.
How do I learn 息 effectively?
Read it in context. Import any Japanese article or video into InputDojo and every occurrence of 息 becomes a one-tap lookup with SRS flashcards, so you meet it in real sentences instead of a list.
More JLPT N3 kanji
Learn every JLPT kanji in context
InputDojo gives you the full JLPT N5–N1 kanji list — plus one-tap lookups in any real Japanese content. Free to start.
Start free