ほっと (sigh of relief)
onomatopoeia5 sentences
A 擬態語 (state mimetic) for the feeling of relief — the moment tension drops. Often paired with する (ほっとする, 'to feel relieved') or 息をつく (ほっと息をつく, 'to breathe a sigh of relief'). Sometimes written with katakana ホッ (ホッとする) for emphasis.