昼休み

• Reading: ひるやすみ
• Romaji: hiruyasumi
• Kanji breakdown: 昼 (hiru) — noon, daytime; 休 (yasu) — rest, break
• Pronunciation: /çi.ɾɯ.ja.sɯ.mi/

Meaning

Lunch break; noon recess. The midday rest period at schools and workplaces.

A compound noun combining 昼 (hiru, noon/daytime) and 休み (yasumi, rest/break). Refers specifically to the lunch break period, typically around noon. In Japanese schools, 昼休み usually runs 30-45 minutes. In offices, it is commonly one hour starting at noon or 12:30.

Examples

1. 昼休みに友達と公園でお弁当を食べました。 During lunch break, I ate my boxed lunch with friends in the park.
2. 昼休みは12時から1時までです。 Lunch break is from 12:00 to 1:00.
3. 昼休みの間に銀行に行ってきます。 I'm going to run to the bank during my lunch break.

Usage Guide

Context: school, work, daily routine

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

A straightforward compound of 昼 (hiru, noon — the kanji shows the sun at its peak) and 休み (yasumi, rest — a person leaning against a tree 木). Together: 'noon rest.'

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal