dùjià: 度假 - To Go on Vacation, To Take a Holiday

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

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.

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 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 dùjiàcūn 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.

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.”

• 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.