xiūxi: 休息 - To Rest, Take a Break

• Keywords: xiuxi, xiūxi, 休息, how to say rest in Chinese, take a break in Chinese, rest day in Chinese, Chinese word for sleep vs rest, Chinese verb rest, HSK 1 vocabulary
• Summary: Learn the essential Chinese word 休息 (xiūxi), which means “to rest” or “to take a break.” This fundamental HSK 1 verb is crucial for everyday conversation, covering everything from a short 10-minute break at work to taking a day off. This guide breaks down the characters, explores the cultural importance of balancing work and rest in China, and provides 10 practical example sentences to help you use 休息 (xiūxi) naturally and accurately.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): xiū xī
• Part of Speech: Verb
• HSK Level: HSK 1
• Concise Definition: To rest; to take a break; to have a day off.
• In a Nutshell: 休息 (xiūxi) is the go-to, all-purpose word for stopping an activity to recover your energy. It's a broad term that can mean sitting down for a few minutes, taking a nap, or even having a day off from work. It's less specific than “to sleep” and is one of the most common verbs you'll hear in daily Chinese life.

• 休 (xiū): This is a beautiful example of a Chinese character as a picture (a phono-semantic compound). It's composed of the radical for “person” (人, here as 亻) next to the character for “tree” (木). It vividly depicts a person leaning against a tree to rest.
• 息 (xī): This character is made of '自' (zì), which originally meant “nose,” and '心' (xīn), meaning “heart.” Together, they represent the breath (息) that comes from one's heart or chest. The meaning extends to ceasing or stopping.
• Combined Meaning: The characters together—a person stopping by a tree (休) to catch their breath (息)—create a powerful and clear image of complete rest, both physically and mentally.

In Chinese culture, the concept of rest is deeply valued, encapsulated by the common idiom 劳逸结合 (láo yì jié hé), which means “to strike a balance between work and rest.” While modern China is known for its intense work ethic (e.g., the “996” culture), the traditional and widely-held belief is that proper rest is not laziness but a necessary component for health, efficiency, and long-term success. This contrasts with some aspects of Western “hustle culture,” where taking a break can sometimes be perceived as a lack of drive. A very practical manifestation of this is the 午休 (wǔxiū), or midday nap. It is common for students and office workers in China to take a short nap after lunch, a practice far more institutionalized than in most Western countries. For Chinese, 休息 isn't just about stopping work; it's an active and essential part of a healthy, productive life.

休息 is a versatile, neutral term used in almost any context, from formal to informal.

• Suggesting a break: You'll often hear it used to tell someone to take it easy: “你太累了，休息一下吧。” (You're too tired, take a little break.)
• Stating your status: To tell someone what you're doing: “别打扰我，我正在休息。” (Don't bother me, I'm resting right now.)
• Referring to days off: It's the standard way to talk about a day off from work or school: “我这个周末休息。” (I have this weekend off.)
• Announcing a break: In a group setting like a class or meeting: “我们休息十分钟。” (We'll take a ten-minute break.)

• Example 1:
  • 我太累了，想休息一下。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ tài lèi le, xiǎng xiūxi yíxià.
  • English: I'm too tired, I want to rest for a bit.
  • Analysis: The use of `一下 (yíxià)` after the verb softens the action, indicating a short or casual period of rest. This is a very common and natural-sounding construction.
• Example 2:
  • 你今天上班还是休息？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ jīntiān shàngbān háishì xiūxi?
  • English: Are you working today or are you off?
  • Analysis: Here, `休息` is used as the direct opposite of `上班 (shàngbān)`, “to go to work.” This is the standard way to ask if someone has a day off.
• Example 3:
  • 医生让我好好