xiūxi: 休息 - To Rest, Take a Break

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• Summary: Learn the essential Chinese word 休息 (xiūxi), which means “to rest” or “take a break.” This page breaks down the characters, explores its deep cultural significance like the Chinese “wǔxiū” (午休) or midday nap, and provides over 10 practical example sentences. Discover the crucial difference between 休息 (xiūxi) and 睡觉 (shuìjiào - to sleep) to avoid common mistakes and sound more like a native speaker.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): xiūxi
• Part of Speech: Verb (can also function as a noun, e.g., “a rest”)
• HSK Level: HSK 1
• Concise Definition: To stop an activity in order to relax, sleep, or regain strength.
• In a Nutshell: 休息 is one of the most fundamental and high-frequency verbs in Chinese. It encompasses any action of ceasing work or effort to recover. This can be a five-minute coffee break, watching TV on the couch after work, or getting a full night's sleep. It's the universal concept of “taking a break.”

• 休 (xiū): This is a beautiful example of a pictographic character. It's composed of the radical for “person” (人, here in its variant form 亻) leaning against the character for “tree” (木). The image is simple and powerful: a person resting under a tree.
• 息 (xī): This character is made of '自' (zì), which originally depicted a nose, and '心' (xīn), the heart. Together, they represent “breath” or “breathing.” The idea is that when you breathe, your heart can be at ease. By extension, it means “to cease” or “to stop.”

Combining the two characters, 休息 (xiūxi) literally means “to rest (休) and catch one's breath (息).” It paints a complete picture of stopping an activity to physically and mentally recover.

The concept of 休息 is deeply embedded in Chinese life, reflecting a philosophy that values balance between work and recovery. A key cultural practice is the 午休 (wǔxiū), or the midday rest/nap. Unlike in many Western office cultures where napping is frowned upon, in China, it's common and accepted for students and employees to take a short nap after lunch. Many offices dim the lights, and workers might sleep at their desks or on cots. This isn't seen as laziness but as a vital way to recharge for an efficient afternoon, a concept rooted in Traditional Chinese Medicine's emphasis on balancing yin (rest) and yang (activity). This contrasts sharply with the “hustle culture” prevalent in places like the United States, where pushing through the afternoon slump with caffeine is often the norm. The Chinese ideal is better captured by the idiom 劳逸结合 (láo yì jié hé), which means “to strike a balance between work and rest.” This highlights a cultural appreciation for rest not just as a necessity, but as an integral part of a productive and healthy life.

休息 is used constantly in daily conversation, from the office to the home.

• Suggesting a Break: It's very common to tell a friend, family member, or colleague who looks tired to “休息一下” (xiūxi yíxià) - “take a little break.”
• Ending a Conversation: Saying “不早了，早点休息吧” (bù zǎo le, zǎodiǎn xiūxi ba) - “It's getting late, rest early” - is a very standard and considerate way to say goodnight or end a late-night phone call or chat.
• Stating Your Status: If you don't want to be disturbed, you can simply say “我在休息” (wǒ zài xiūxi) - “I'm resting.”
• Business Signage: A small shop or restaurant taking a midday break might put up a sign that says 休息中 (xiūxi zhōng), meaning “On Break” or “Currently Resting.”

• Example 1:
  • 我太累了，需要休息一下。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ tài lèi le, xūyào xiūxi yíxià.
  • English: I'm too tired, I need to take a little break.
  • Analysis: A very common and natural sentence. “一下 (yíxià)” softens the verb and implies a brief period of rest.
• Example 2:
  • 你看起来脸色不好，应该好好休息。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ kànqǐlái liǎnsè bù hǎo, yīnggāi hǎohāo xiūxi.
  • English: You don't look well, you should get some proper rest.
  • Analysis: “好好 (hǎohāo)” means “properly” or “well.” It emphasizes the need for a quality, restorative rest, not just a short break.
• Example 3:
  • 我们工作了三个小时了，休息十分钟吧。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen gōngzuò le sān ge xiǎoshí le, xiūxi shí fēnzhōng ba.
  • English: We've been working for three hours, let's take a ten-minute break.
  • Analysis: This shows how 休息 is used for scheduled, timed breaks in a work or study context.
• Example 4:
  • 医生告诉他，这个星期要在家休息。
  • Pinyin: Yīshēng gàosù tā, zhège xīngqī yào zài jiā xiūxi.
  • English: The doctor told him he has to rest at home this week.
  • Analysis: Here, 休息 refers to a longer period of convalescence or recovery from illness.
• Example 5:
  • 已经很晚了，你早点休息吧。
  • Pinyin: Yǐjīng hěn wǎn le, nǐ zǎodiǎn xiūxi ba.
  • English: It's already very late, you should get some rest soon.
  • Analysis: This is a classic, polite way to say goodnight. It's gentler and more caring than just saying “goodnight.”
• Example 6:
  • 爸爸在书房休息，我们小声一点。
  • Pinyin: Bàba zài shūfáng xiūxi, wǒmen xiǎo shēng yìdiǎn.
  • English: Dad is resting in the study, let's be a bit quieter.
  • Analysis: The “在 (zài) + Verb” structure indicates an ongoing action. He is in the process of resting right now.
• Example 7:
  • 你昨天晚上休息得好吗？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ zuótiān wǎnshang xiūxi de hǎo ma?
  • English: Did you rest well last night?
  • Analysis: This uses the degree complement “得 (de)” to ask about the quality of the rest.
• Example 8:
  • 我们的午餐休息时间是一个小时。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen de wǔcān xiūxi shíjiān shì yí ge xiǎoshí.
  • English: Our lunch break time is one hour.
  • Analysis: Here, 休息 functions as a noun, modifying “时间 (shíjiān)” to mean “rest time” or “break time.”
• Example 9:
  • 这家店中午12点到1点休息。
  • Pinyin: Zhè jiā diàn zhōngwǔ shí'èr diǎn dào yī diǎn xiūxi.
  • English: This shop takes a break from 12 PM to 1 PM.
  • Analysis: Demonstrates how businesses communicate their break hours.
• Example 10:
  • 跑完马拉松以后，我只想回家好好休息。
  • Pinyin: Pǎo wán mǎlāsōng yǐhòu, wǒ zhǐ xiǎng huí jiā hǎohāo xiūxi.
  • English: After running the marathon, I just want to go home and have a good rest.
  • Analysis: This sentence emphasizes the deep need for rest after strenuous physical activity.

The most common point of confusion for English speakers is the difference between 休息 and 睡觉 (shuìjiào).

• 休息 (xiūxi) - To Rest (General) vs. 睡觉 (shuìjiào) - To Sleep (Specific)

Think of 休息 as the broad category and 睡觉 as one specific activity within that category. You can 休息 by reading a book, watching TV, listening to music, or just sitting quietly. All sleeping (睡觉) is a form of resting (休息), but not all resting (休息) is sleeping (睡觉).

• Correct Usage: 你累了，坐下来休息一下吧。 (Nǐ lèi le, zuò xiàlái xiūxi yíxià ba.) - You're tired, sit down and rest for a bit. (You are not necessarily telling them to sleep).
• Incorrect Usage: 你累了，坐下来睡觉一下吧。 (Nǐ lèi le, zuò xiàlái shuìjiào yíxià ba.) - This is incorrect and sounds strange. It means “You're tired, sit down and sleep for a bit,” which is usually not the intended meaning unless you're pointing to a bed.
• False Friend: “Holiday/Vacation”

While you certainly 休息 on vacation, the specific word for a holiday or vacation is 放假 (fàngjià).

• 休息 (xiūxi): Can refer to a day off. “我明天休息” (Wǒ míngtiān xiūxi) - “I'm off work tomorrow.”
• 放假 (fàngjià): Refers to an official holiday period. “我们国庆节放假七天” (Wǒmen Guóqìngjié fàngjià qī tiān) - “We have a seven-day holiday for National Day.”

• 睡觉 (shuìjiào) - To sleep. A specific and very common way to 休息.
• 午休 (wǔxiū) - Midday rest; lunch break; siesta. A culturally significant, scheduled 休息 period.
• 放假 (fàngjià) - To be on holiday or vacation. A longer, official period of time off from work or school.
• 劳逸结合 (láo yì jié hé) - An idiom meaning “to balance work and rest.” The core philosophy behind healthy 休息.
• 打盹儿 (dǎdǔnr) - To doze off, to nap. An informal term for a short, often unplanned, sleep.
• 下班 (xiàbān) - To get off work. The daily event that allows for evening 休息.
• 疲劳 (píláo) - Fatigue; tired. The physical or mental state that creates the need for 休息.
• 周末 (zhōumò) - Weekend. The two days of the week typically designated for 休息.
• 休息室 (xiūxishì) - Lounge; breakroom. A place specifically designed for people to 休息.
• 安息 (ānxī) - To rest in peace. A formal, literary term used for the deceased. Note: Do NOT use this for a living person.