休 – Kanji Meaning, Reading, and Common Words

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休

休 means ‘rest’ or ‘take a break.’ It depicts a person (人) leaning against a tree (木), painting a vivid picture of someone resting in the shade.

Reading

On’yomi: キュウ (kyuu)

Kun’yomi: やす-む (yasu-mu)

Basic Information

Kanji 休
Meaning rest, vacation, holiday
Stroke Count 6
JLPT Level N5

How to Understand This Kanji

休 covers a range of ‘rest’ meanings: a short break during work, a day off from school, or an extended vacation. It generally carries positive, refreshing connotations rather than the idea of exhaustion.

Common Words

  • 休み（やすみ / yasumi） — rest, break, day off, vacation
  • 休日（きゅうじつ / kyūjitsu） — holiday, day off
  • 夏休み（なつやすみ / natsuyasumi） — summer vacation
  • 昼休み（ひるやすみ / hiruyasumi） — lunch break
  • 休む（やすむ / yasumu） — to rest, to take a day off, to be absent
  • 休憩（きゅうけい / kyūkei） — short break, recess

Example Sentences

  • 少し休みましょう。

    すこしやすみましょう。 / Sukoshi yasumimashō.

    Let’s rest for a while.

  • 今日は学校を休みました。

    きょうはがっこうをやすみました。 / Kyō wa gakkō o yasumimashita.

    I was absent from school today.

  • 夏休みはどこへ行きますか？

    なつやすみはどこへいきますか？ / Natsuyasumi wa doko e ikimasu ka?

    Where are you going for summer vacation?

Related Kanji

  • 人

    — Person — the left component of 休; spotting 人 inside 休 reinforces the mnemonic

  • 木

    — Tree — the right component of 休; 人 leaning on 木 = rest

  • 体

    — Body — closely related concept; you rest (休む) your body (体)

When Learners Usually See This Kanji

休 is a pictographic kanji that is easy to remember once you see the person (人) leaning on a tree (木). This image of resting in the shade is a classic mnemonic. The reading やすみ is the most everyday form.

Summary

休 means ‘rest’ and is used for breaks, days off, and vacations in school and work contexts.