Word
休養
Meaning in Englishrest, break, recreation
Animated kanji stroke order
Sentence
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Word context
What it means
休養 means rest and recuperation; it refers to taking time away from activity to restore physical or mental health.
Main meanings
- rest and recuperation to restore physical or mental health
- time off from work, study, or sport to recover or relax
- in medical or wellness contexts, the deliberate act of pausing activity for recovery
How to use it
Used in formal and everyday contexts to describe taking a break for health, recovery from illness or injury, athletic rehabilitation, or general relaxation; commonly paired with をとる to indicate taking rest; it appears in medical reports, sports articles, HR communications, and self-help discussions.
Variants and close terms
- 静養 (seiyō) — near synonym with nuance of peaceful recuperation
- 休息 (kyūsoku) — rest, general pause, less emphasis on recovery
- 養生 (yōjō) — health-preserving care, self-care
Composition
- 休 = rest, stop;
- 養 = nourish, foster;
Etymology
From 休 (rest) + 養 (nourishment), forming a compound that conveys the idea of nourishing rest; the on'yomi kyūyō reflects Chinese phonology.
Word class
Noun (名詞)
Word
Related words by kanji and components
N1
産休
sankyuu
maternity leave
N1
休学
kyuugaku
temporary absence from school, suspension
N1
休戦
kyuusen
truce, armistice
N1
連休
renkyuu
consecutive holidays
N1
扶養
fuyou
support, maintenance
N1
保養
hoyou
health preservation, recuperation, recreation
N1
養う
yashinau
to rear, to maintain, to cultivate
N1
休める
yasumeru
to rest, to suspend, to give relief
N1
養護
yougo
protection, nursing, protective care
Kanji