Chinese word

休息

Pronunciation

Pinyinxiū xī

Meaning

  • verbrest

Example

我们先休息一下吧。wǒ men xiān xiū xī yí xià ba

Let's rest for a bit first.

Illustration for 休息 (rest)

More examples

他生病了，需要在家休息几天。tā shēng bìng le xū yào zài jiā xiū xī jǐ tiān

He is sick and needs to rest at home for a few days.

Core concept

A person sets activity aside briefly, allowing a tired body or mind to regain energy.

Common phrases

  • 休息一下xiū xī yí xià

    rest for a bit

  • 好好休息háo hǎo xiū xī

    rest well

Similar words

睡觉shuì jiào: Sleeping as a way to rest and regain energy.

Definition in Chinese

暂时停止劳作或活动，以便恢复体力、减轻疲劳或恢复精神状态。zàn shí tíng zhǐ láo zuò huò huó dòng yǐ biàn huī fù tǐ lì jiǎn qīng pí láo huò huī fù jīng shén zhuàng tài

Word origin

休息 (xiūxī, "rest") combines 休 (xiū, "rest"), traditionally showing a person beside a tree, with 息 (xī, "breath"), linking a pause with catching one's breath.

Usage tips

  • In everyday Chinese, 一下 (yíxià, "a little") after 休息 (xiūxī, "rest") makes a short pause sound natural, while 吧 (ba, "suggestion particle") softens a proposal.

Other meanings

  • breaknoun

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word