Meaning of 休息
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- rest
- to rest
How to use 休息
休息 is the everyday word for resting, taking a break, or having time off. It works alone as a verb or with a time phrase after it. 我们休息十分钟吧。(Wǒmen xiūxi shí fēnzhōng ba.) Let's take a ten-minute break.
休 (xiū) shows a person 亻 leaning against a tree 木, taking a break. 息 (xī) has 自 (self, originally a nose) over 心 (heart), so picture catching your breath and letting your heart slow down.
Common mistake: Learners often say the second syllable with a full fourth or first tone. In standard speech 息 is usually neutral tone here, xiūxi, though xiūxī is also heard. Also, 休息 cannot take a direct object, so do not say 休息身体. Use 让身体休息 instead.
休息 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
休 xiū · to rest · 6 strokes
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息 xī · to end · 10 strokes
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Related words
Words that share a character with 休息.
| 信息 | xìnxī | information; news; message |
| 休假 | xiūjià | to go on vacation; to have a holiday; to take leave |
| 消息 | xiāoxi | (piece of) news; information; message |
| 退休 | tuìxiū | to retire (from the workforce); to go into retirement |
| 利息 | lìxī | interest (on a loan) |
| 休闲 | xiūxián | leisure; relaxation |
| 休想 | xiūxiǎng | don't think (that); don't imagine (that) |
| 窒息 | zhìxī | to choke; to stifle |
| 气息 | qìxī | breath; smell |
| 平息 | píngxī | (of wind etc) to subside; to die down; to quell; to smooth over (a dispute etc) |
| 退休金 | tuìxiūjīn | retirement pension; pension payments received after retirement |
| 休克 | xiūkè | (medicine) (loanword) shock; to go into shock |
Questions about 休息
What does 休息 mean?
休息 (xiūxi) means "rest; to rest" and is used as a verb.
How do you write 休息?
休息 is made of 2 characters: 休 (6 strokes), 息 (10 strokes). That is 16 strokes in total.
Is 休息 an HSK word?
Yes. 休息 is on the HSK 1 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
How do I say 'take a short rest' with 休息?
Use 休息一下 (xiūxi yíxià) or repeat the verb as 休息休息 (xiūxi xiūxi). Both sound relaxed and natural, for example 你累了，休息一下吧。
What is the difference between 休息 and 休假?
休息 means resting in general, from a few minutes to a day off. 休假 (xiūjià) means taking official leave or a vacation from work, usually for several days.