はあ (かん)

はあ (かん) · haa (kan) · JLPT N3 · noun

(sigh)

💨 Sounds like haaa, the long breath out you let go when you sigh

Japanese はあ is pure onomatopoeia: the drawn-out vowel copies a heavy exhale. The same sound works as a sigh, a tired or puzzled huh?, or a polite I see when someone is listening.

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