Word
休息
Meaning in Englishrest, relaxation, relief
Animated kanji stroke order
Word context
What it means
What does 休息 mean? It denotes a period of rest or pause from activity intended for recovery of energy; as a noun it describes taking time to recover physically or mentally, and it is commonly found in health guidance, workplace communication, and everyday life.
Main meanings
- Primary sense: rest or repose, indicating a cessation of activity to recover energy
- Medical or wellness nuance: rest advised to promote healing or reduce fatigue
- Temporal nuance: refers to a scheduled pause or break within a day or period
- Formal usage: appears in discussions of welfare, labor, or health policy to describe mandated breaks
- Common associations: rest period, rest day, a state of being at ease
How to use it
Used in formal writing, medical contexts, and everyday speech to describe taking time to recover; in casual talk speakers may prefer synonyms like 休養 or 休憩 depending on nuance; it can be associated with taking a break during work, illness recovery, or a general pause in daily activities.
Variants and close terms
- 休養 (kyūyō) — rest, recuperation
- 安静 (ansei) — rest, quiet; often in medical contexts
- 休憩 (kyūkei) — break, intermission; emphasizes a pause from activity
Composition
- 休: rest, pause; depicts a person taking a break (the character conveys the idea of stepping away)
- 息: breath, respiration; represents the act of breathing and life energy
- When combined as 休息, they encode the concept of pausing to breathe and regain energy
Word class
Noun (名詞)
Related words by kanji and components
N1
一息
hitoiki
a breath, a pause, an effort
N2
お休み
oyasumi
holiday, absence; (exp.) Good night
N2
休業
kyuugyou
closure, shutdown, holiday
N2
休講
kyuukou
lecture canceled
N2
休養
kyuuyou
rest, break, recreation
N2
溜息
tameiki
a sigh
N2
定休日
teikyuubi
regular holiday
N2
一休み
hitoyasumi
a rest
N3
息
iki
breath, breathing