休暇

What it means

What does 休暇 mean? 休暇 (kyuuka) denotes a span of authorized absence from regular duties used for rest, personal matters, recovery, or travel and functions as a formal noun for taking time away from obligations.

Main meanings

• 1. A formal term for scheduled absence such as annual or arranged leave distinct from everyday days off.
• 2. Short-term absence for health or recuperation purposes.
• 3. A period taken specifically for leisure or travel that may be recorded or approved by an organization.
• 4. In some contexts, the temporary suspension of duties or operations rather than individual absence.

How to use it

Common in administrative, workplace and official contexts—appears in company policies, HR forms, contracts and announcements; in spoken language between colleagues and supervisors it sounds formal, while casual conversations more often use 休み (yasumi) or バカンス (bakansu) to refer to holidays or vacations; it regularly pairs with modifiers to indicate type or duration.