休息

• Reading: きゅうそく
• Romaji: kyuusoku
• Kanji breakdown: 休 (kyū) — rest, pause; 息 (soku) — breath, respiration
• Pronunciation: /kjɯː.so.kɯ/

Meaning

Rest; relief; relaxation. A period of recuperation from effort or stress.

A noun that also functions as a suru verb (休息する). More literary and thorough than 休憩 (a short break). 休息 implies genuine recuperation — resting the body and mind fully, not just pausing briefly. Often used when someone has been overworking or is recovering. Common in health and wellness contexts.

Examples

1. 働きすぎたので今日は十分に休息を取った。 I overworked myself, so I got plenty of rest today.
2. 体調を回復するには休息が一番大切だ。 Rest is the most important thing for recovering your health.
3. 試験が終わったので少し休息できる。 Now that exams are over, I can finally get some rest.

Usage Guide

Context: health, wellness, daily life

Tone: calm

Origin & History

Compound of 休 (kyū, rest) and 息 (soku, breath). Together, 'resting one's breath' — the image of catching one's breath after exertion, recovering fully.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal