Is it possible to draw in air through your nose, without actually breathing it?

I think musicians who play brass or wind instruments use a technique where they breathe in through their nose while expelling air out their mouth at the same time so they can keep playing. Although it probably goes into their lungs first I’m not sure.

It goes into the lungs. Holding your breath, so to speak, still makes you “breathe”.

To take in air but no breathe is to simply open your mouth. “air” fills mouth, no breathing done.

By default, your nostrils are “filled with air”

Yes, it’s possible. Hold your breath, close your lips, then make an exaggerated chewing motion with your lower jaw. That makes your mouth cavity expand and contract, which makes air move in and out through the nose. Your mouth is doing what your lungs normally do, but on a smaller scale.

Warning- doing this in the company of others may lead to funny looks, ridicule, or abandonment. The writer of this answer takes no responsibility for the social consequences of the action described therein

Musicians don’t use their nose. They take a pause between notes and pull in a breath from their mouth.

You need a vacuum of space. With your mouth you can do it because you can expand the volume of that space, and it creates a vacuum that fills with air. Since you can’t physically expand the nasal cavity you can’t create a vacuum. For that your diaphragm is needed, and hence, breathing. You can, however, close your lips, and expand your mouth and a very little air will come in through the nose. You might feel a slight cooling sensation on the soft palate, but it’s not very much air.

edit: I just read Harp’s answer. He got there first.

Then of course there’s also circular breathing, but that’s another topic.

Thanks guys!

I have just tried it…I don’t seem to be able to lol