suck, imbibe, inhale, sip
On'yomi (音読み)
- キュウ
Kun'yomi (訓読み)
- す.う
About this kanji
The kanji 吸 (きゅう, す.う) primarily means to suck, inhale, or sip. It is often used as a verb, like in 吸う (すう), which means "to breathe in." One common compound is 呼吸 (こきゅう), meaning "breathing," which combines 吸 with another kanji for "call" to suggest drawing in air. Another example is 吸収 (きゅうしゅう), meaning "absorption," where it refers to taking in something, like nutrients. A helpful usage note is that this kanji is also associated with smoking, as seen in 吸い殻 (すいがら), meaning "cigarette end." This shows how 吸 relates to both inhaling air and taking in substances.
Example sentences
深く吸って、息を整えよう。
Take a deep breath and calm yourself.
Meanings across languages
- English
- suck, imbibe, inhale, sip
- Tiếng Việt
- mút, uống, hít, nhấp
- 日本語
- きゅう, す, しくす
- 한국어
- 흡입하다, 다음하다, 호흡하다, 할
- 中文
- 吸, 饮, 吸入, 小酌
- id
- sedot, menyeruput, menghirup, meludahi
- th
- ดูด, ดื่ม, หายใจเข้า, จิบ
- es
- chupar, imbuir, inhala, sorbos
- fr
- sucer, absorber, inhaler, sirop
- de
- saugen, schlucken, einatmen, schlürfen
- pt
- sugar, ingerir, inalar, goladas
Common compounds
- 呼吸こきゅうbreathing, respiration, knack
- 吸うすうto breathe in, to inhale, to smoke (a cigarette, etc.)
- 吸収きゅうしゅうabsorption, suction, attraction
- 呼吸器こきゅうきrespiratory organs
- 吸い殻すいがらcigarette end, cigarette butt, tobacco ashes
- 吸い込むすいこむto inhale, to breathe in, to suck up
- 人工呼吸じんこうこきゅうartificial respiration
- 吸引きゅういんabsorption, suction, aspiration
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