====== dùjià: 度假 - To Go on Vacation, To Take a Holiday ======
===== Quick Summary =====
  *   **Keywords:** 度假, dujia, go on vacation in Chinese, take a holiday Chinese, Chinese for vacation, 度假 meaning, travel in China, Chinese holiday, 放假, 旅游
  *   **Summary:** Learn how to say "go on vacation" in Chinese with the word **度假 (dùjià)**. This guide explains the meaning of 度假, how to use it in sentences, and explores the cultural significance of taking a holiday in modern China. Discover the key differences between **度假 (dùjià)**, [[旅游]] (lǚyóu - to travel), and [[放假]] (fàngjià - to be on holiday/day off), and understand how Chinese people view vacation time. This is your essential resource for discussing travel and holidays in Mandarin.
===== Core Meaning =====
  *   **Pinyin (with tone marks):** dùjià
  *   **Part of Speech:** Verb (specifically, a separable verb-object compound)
  *   **HSK Level:** HSK 4
  *   **Concise Definition:** To spend one's holidays or go on vacation, typically by traveling away from home for leisure.
  *   **In a Nutshell:** **度假 (dùjià)** is the classic idea of "going on vacation." It's not just having time off; it's the act of going somewhere specifically for relaxation and enjoyment. Think of a beach trip, a mountain retreat, or staying at a resort. The core idea is leaving your daily routine behind to rest and have fun in a different location for several days.
===== Character Breakdown =====
  *   **度 (dù):** This character's primary meaning is "to pass" or "to spend (time)." It can also mean "degree" or "measure," but in this context, it clearly means to pass through a period of time.
  *   **假 (jià):** This character means "holiday" or "leave" (from work/school). Be careful: it is pronounced `jiǎ` when it means "fake" or "false." Here, in the context of time off, it's always `jià`.
When combined, **度假 (dùjià)** literally translates to "to spend a holiday," perfectly capturing the essence of the word.
===== Cultural Context and Significance =====
In Western, particularly American culture, a "vacation" often evokes images of road trips, long summer breaks, or "unplugging" to do nothing at all. The concept of **度假 (dùjià)** in China shares the goal of leisure but has its own cultural flavor.
Historically, leisure travel in China was a luxury for the wealthy elite. For most people, "holidays" meant returning to one's hometown ([[回老家]], huí lǎojiā) during major festivals like the Spring Festival. It was about family obligations more than personal leisure.
Today, with a booming economy and a growing middle class, **度假** has become a central part of modern life and a significant status symbol. However, some cultural differences remain:
  *   **The "Golden Week" Rush:** Major national holidays, known as Golden Weeks ([[黄金周]], huángjīnzhōu), are the primary time for the entire country to **度假**. This leads to incredibly crowded tourist spots, packed trains, and sold-out hotels. It's a shared national experience, unlike the more staggered vacation schedules in the West.
  *   **Active vs. Passive Relaxation:** A Chinese **度假** can often be very active and fast-paced. The goal is frequently to see as many famous sights as possible, take lots of photos (especially for social media), and try local delicacies. The Western idea of spending a week just reading a book by a pool is becoming more popular but is not the traditional default. A vacation is an event to be *done*, not just a state of rest.
  *   **Group and Family Focus:** While solo travel is increasing, it's far more common for people to **度假** with their family, partners, or as part of an organized tour group. The experience is often a collective one, shared with loved ones.
===== Practical Usage in Modern China =====
**度假 (dùjià)** is a common, everyday word used in a variety of contexts.
  *   **Planning a Trip:** You'll use it constantly when discussing future holiday plans with friends or colleagues.
    *   e.g., “我们计划去泰国**度假**。” (Wǒmen jìhuà qù Tàiguó **dùjià**.) - "We're planning to go to Thailand for vacation."
  *   **Social Media:** It's extremely common to see posts captioned with phrases like “在三亚**度假**中” (Zài Sānyà **dùjià** zhōng) - "Vacationing in Sanya."
  *   **Common Collocations:**
    *   去 + [Place] + **度假**: The most common structure. "Go to [Place] for vacation."
    *   **度假**村 (dùjiàcūn): A holiday resort.
    *   **度假**胜地 (dùjià shèngdì): A famous holiday destination/hotspot.
The word carries a positive and relaxed connotation. It implies a degree of comfort and pleasure, setting it apart from more arduous forms of travel.
===== Example Sentences =====
**Example 1:**
  *   我们夏天要去海边**度假**。
  *   Pinyin: Wǒmen xiàtiān yào qù hǎibiān **dùjià**.
  *   English: We are going to the seaside to have a vacation this summer.
  *   Analysis: A standard, simple sentence showing future plans using the structure "去 + [Place] + 度假".
**Example 2:**
  *   工作太累了，我真的需要**度假**。
  *   Pinyin: Gōngzuò tài lèi le, wǒ zhēn de xūyào **dùjià**.
  *   English: Work is too tiring, I really need to go on vacation.
  *   Analysis: Here, **度假** is used as a general concept, almost like a noun, representing the "act of taking a vacation."
**Example 3:**
  *   他们一家人上周去日本**度假**了。
  *   Pinyin: Tāmen yī jiā rén shàng zhōu qù Rìběn **dùjià** le.
  *   English: Their whole family went to Japan for vacation last week.
  *   Analysis: A common way to describe a past vacation. The `了 (le)` indicates the action is completed.
**Example 4:**
  *   这个**度假**村的环境和服务都一流。
  *   Pinyin: Zhège **dùjià**cūn de huánjìng hé fúwù dōu yīliú.
  *   English: The environment and service at this resort are both top-notch.
  *   Analysis: This shows how **度假** acts as a modifier in the compound word **度假村 (dùjiàcūn)**, meaning "resort."
**Example 5:**
  *   你**度假**过得怎么样？
  *   Pinyin: Nǐ **dùjià** guò de zěnmeyàng?
  *   English: How was your vacation? (Literally: How did you spend your vacation?)
  *   Analysis: A great question to ask a friend who just got back from a trip. `过得怎么样 (guò de zěnmeyàng)` is a common way to ask about an experience.
**Example 6:**
  *   很多人选择在黄金周期间出国**度假**。
  *   Pinyin: Hěn duō rén xuǎnzé zài huángjīnzhōu qījiān chūguó **dùjià**.
  *   English: Many people choose to go abroad for vacation during the Golden Week holiday period.
  *   Analysis: This sentence provides cultural context about a peak travel time in China.
**Example 7:**
  *   我去年在云南**度**了一个愉快的**假**。
  *   Pinyin: Wǒ qùnián zài Yúnnán **dù** le yí ge yúkuài de **jià**.
  *   English: I spent a pleasant holiday in Yunnan last year.
  *   Analysis: This demonstrates that **度假** is a separable verb. You can place other words, like `一个愉快的 (yí ge yúkuài de)`, between `度 (dù)` and `假 (jià)`.
**Example 8:**
  *   **度假**的目的是为了放松，不是为了赶行程。
  *   Pinyin: **Dùjià** de mùdì shì wèile fàngsōng, bú shì wèile gǎn xíngchéng.
  *   English: The purpose of a vacation is to relax, not to rush through an itinerary.
  *   Analysis: This sentence contrasts two different philosophies of travel, highlighting the ideal meaning of **度假**.
**Example 9:**
  *   他把所有的年假都存起来，准备去欧洲**度假**。
  *   Pinyin: Tā bǎ suǒyǒu de niánjià dōu cún qǐlái, zhǔnbèi qù Ōuzhōu **dùjià**.
  *   English: He saved up all his annual leave, preparing to go to Europe for a vacation.
  *   Analysis: Connects the concept of `年假 (niánjià)` - annual leave from a job - with the act of **度假**.
**Example 10:**
  *   这家酒店是当地最有名的**度假**酒店。
  *   Pinyin: Zhè jiā jiǔdiàn shì dāngdì zuì yǒumíng de **dùjià** jiǔdiàn.
  *   English: This hotel is the most famous resort hotel in the local area.
  *   Analysis: Similar to Example 4, this shows **度假** used as an adjective to describe a type of hotel.
===== Nuances and Common Mistakes =====
The biggest point of confusion for learners is distinguishing **度假** from similar-sounding words.
  *   **度假 (dùjià) vs. 旅游 (lǚyóu)**
    *   **度假 (dùjià)** emphasizes **relaxation**. It's about staying in one place (a resort, a beach house) to rest. The goal is leisure.
    *   **旅游 (lǚyóu)** emphasizes **sightseeing and activity**. It's about visiting attractions, exploring new places, and can often be quite tiring. The goal is exploration.
    *   **Simple Rule:** You might **旅游 (lǚyóu)** through several European cities in a week, but you would **度假 (dùjià)** at a single beach resort in Thailand for a week.
  *   **度假 (dùjià) vs. 放假 (fàngjià)**
    *   **放假 (fàngjià)** simply means "to be on holiday" or "to have time off" from work or school. It's a state. You can **放假** and just stay at home doing chores.
    *   **度假 (dùjià)** is an **action**. It almost always implies you are traveling away from home for the holiday.
    *   **Incorrect:** 我这个周末**度假**，所以我在家打扫卫生。 (Wǒ zhège zhōumò **dùjià**, suǒyǐ wǒ zài jiā dǎsǎo wèishēng.) - //This is wrong because if you're staying home to clean, you are not "vacationing."//
    *   **Correct:** 我这个周末**放假**，所以我在家打扫卫生。 (Wǒ zhège zhōumò **fàngjià**, suǒyǐ wǒ zài jiā dǎsǎo wèishēng.) - "I have the weekend off, so I'm cleaning my house."
===== Related Terms and Concepts =====
  *   [[旅游]] (lǚyóu) - To travel, tourism. The act of sightseeing, often more active than **度假**.
  *   [[旅行]] (lǚxíng) - To travel, to journey. Similar to 旅游 but can imply a longer, more profound journey.
  *   [[放假]] (fàngjià) - To have a holiday/day off. The state of being free from work/school, doesn't imply travel.
  *   [[假期]] (jiàqī) - Vacation period, holiday (noun). The block of time itself (e.g., "国庆节**假期**" - National Day holiday period).
  *   [[年假]] (niánjià) - Annual leave. The paid vacation time you get from a job.
  *   [[暑假]] (shǔjià) - Summer vacation (from school).
  *   [[寒假]] (hánjià) - Winter vacation (from school).
  *   [[度假村]] (dùjiàcūn) - Resort. A place specifically built for people to **度假**.
  *   [[休闲]] (xiūxián) - Leisure; to relax. The general feeling or activity you engage in during a **度假**.
  *   [[黄金周]] (huángjīnzhōu) - Golden Week. The major week-long national holidays in China, a peak time for **度假**.