A method and a device for retrieving a breathing signal is disclosed. Firstly, a triaxial acceleration signal is retrieved for a fixed period. Then, multivariate empirical mode decomposition (MEMD) is performed on the triaxial acceleration signal, so as to sequentially obtain a plurality of intrinsic mode functions (IMFs). Finally, an average inclination angle of the triaxial acceleration signal corresponding to each intrinsic mode function is sequentially calculated, and the intrinsic mode function corresponding to the average inclination angle within a predetermined angle range is added to a set. All the intrinsic mode functions are added up to obtain and output a breathing signal when an amount of the intrinsic mode functions in the set equals to a predetermined value being a natural number.
