息 - BREATH Keeps Your Heart Beating

Readings & Meanings:

いき

ソク

breath

Common Usage:

息ができない

子息

Examples:

鼻が詰まっていて、息ができない。

ご子息はとてもかしこいですね。

Translations:

My nose is stuffed up; I can't breathe.

Your son is really smart.

Bonus:

Again we have a heart radical, 心, on the bottom. Up top, we've got the 自 of 自分, which refers to the self. So 息 is what keeps my heart beating. Makes sense.

Extra Bonus:

子息 means the same as 息子, but is more formal.

References:

http://www.thejapanesepage.com/kanji/kanji/i.htm