ほっとします（ほっとします、hoっtoshimasu）
- to feel relieved

The Japanese verb ほっとします (hottoshimasu) expresses a feeling of relief, being at ease, or feeling a sense of calmness after a stressful or anxious situation. It conveys a sense of relaxation and the removal of tension. It's often used when something negative is avoided, or a positive outcome is achieved after worry. The feeling is similar to letting out a sigh of relief.

⚫︎ 試験に合格して、ほっとしました。 Translation: I felt relieved after passing the exam. ⚫︎ 無事に家に着いて、ほっとしました。 Translation: I was relieved to arrive home safely. ⚫︎ 彼が元気だと聞いて、ほっとしました。 Translation: I was relieved to hear that he's doing well.

You can use ほっとします in various situations. ⚫︎ When you have been worried about something and the worry has been resolved. ⚫︎ After a difficult task is completed. ⚫︎ When a negative situation is avoided. ⚫︎ Often used in response to good news or a positive outcome.

ほっとします is typically written in hiragana: ほっとします. The kanji form is not commonly used. The word is the polite form of the verb, and it can change depending on tense and context: ⚫︎ Past tense: ほっとしました（hottoshimashita - I was relieved） ⚫︎ Present/Future Negative: ほっとしません（hottoshimasen - I won't be relieved/ I am not relieved） ⚫︎ Past Negative: ほっとしませんでした（hottoshimasen deshita - I wasn't relieved） ⚫︎ Dictionary form: ほっとする（hottosuru） The okurigana (suffix hiragana) is always します in the polite form.

⚫︎ 安心する (anshin suru): to feel relieved, to feel at ease. ⚫︎ 安堵する (ando suru): to feel relieved (more formal). ⚫︎ 気が楽になる (kiga raku ni naru): to feel at ease, to feel relieved.

⚫︎ 心配する (shinpai suru): to worry. ⚫︎ 不安になる (fuan ni naru): to become anxious. ⚫︎ 緊張する (kinchō suru): to feel nervous, to be tense.

飛行機が時間通りに到着して、ほっとしました。 ・Translation: I was relieved that the plane arrived on time. ・Explanation: The speaker was probably anxious about the plane's arrival, and when it landed on time, they felt relieved.

大切な書類が見つかって、ほっとしました。 ・Translation: I felt relieved that the important documents were found. ・Explanation: This shows relief after the worry of losing important documents.

The word ほっと (hotto) is an onomatopoeia, representing the feeling of relief or a sudden release of tension, like a sigh of relief. It is directly followed by the verb します (shimasu), which means "to do," creating the verb ほっとします.