Katazu wo Nomu (固唾を呑む - Bating One's Breath)

Katazu wo Nomu

I am sometimes concerned about what is going to happen and wait with bated breath.

Such an action is referred to as 'katazu wo nomu' (固唾を呑む).

'Kata' (固) means "firm," 'zu' (唾) means "saliva," and 'nomu' (呑む) means "to swallow" or "to drink," so the literal meaning of this phrase is "to swallow one's firm saliva."

Here, 'katazu' (固唾 - literally "firm saliva") is saliva that accumulates in your mouth when you are nervous.

If you are concerning about what is going to happen, you probably swallow your 'katazu'.

Because of this, 'katazu wo nomu' came to have its current meaning.

固唾を呑む

私は時折、事の成り行きが気掛かりで、息を凝らして見守ることがあります。

このようなことを、「固唾を呑む」と言うことができます。

「固」は "firm"、「唾」は "saliva"、「呑む」は "swallow/drink" を意味するので、この表現の文字どおりの意味は "to swallow one's firm saliva" となります。

ここで「固唾」とは、緊張した際に口の中に溜まる唾のことです。

事の成り行きが心配であると、きっとこの固唾を呑みこむことになると思います。

このことから、「固唾を呑む」は現在の意味を持つようになりました。

• I am sometimes concerned about what is going to happen and wait with bated breath.
• This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!

• Such an action is referred to as 'katazu wo nomu' (固唾を呑む).
• This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!

• 'Kata' (固) means "firm," 'zu' (唾) means "saliva," and 'nomu' (呑む) means "to swallow" or "to drink," so the literal meaning of this phrase is "to swallow one's firm saliva."
• This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!

• Here, 'katazu' (固唾 - literally "firm saliva") is saliva that accumulates in your mouth when you are nervous.
• This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!

• If you are concerning about what is going to happen, you probably swallow your 'katazu'.
• If you are concerned about what is going to happen, you probably swallow your 'katazu'.

• Because of this, 'katazu wo nomu' came to have its current meaning.
• This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!

• 'Kata' (固) means "firm," 'zu' (唾) means "saliva," and 'nomu' (呑む) means "to swallow" or "to drink," so the literal meaning of this phrase is "to swallow one's firm saliva."
• 'Kata' (固) means "firm" or "solid," 'dzu' (唾) means "saliva," and 'nomu' (呑む) means "to swallow" or "to drink," so the literal meaning of this phrase is "to swallow a ball of saliva."

  "Oh that this oh-too sullied [solid; 固い] flesh would melt, thaw and resolve itself into a dew" (Hamlet)
  
  Hamlet wanted the solid world to dissolve (to escape his troubles), and I think that there's something similar in the Japanese phrase... some problem has become real/solid and all you can do is just "drink it up" and hope for the best (metaphor of a spit-ball that you "drink" representing the real-life problem)