Translation and Meaning of: 休み - yasumi

The Japanese word 「休み」 (yasumi) is a commonly used expression to refer to rest, time off, or vacation. It consists of two main elements: the Kanji 「休」 and the hiragana suffix 「み」. The Kanji 「休」 means "rest" or "pause" and is a combination of the radicals for "person" (亻) and "tree" (木). The image of a person resting under a tree conveys the idea of repose and tranquility. The suffix 「み」 is a grammatical component that transforms the verb into a noun, reinforcing the idea of an action turned into a state or period of rest.

The origin of the term 「休み」dates back to its traditional use in Japanese culture, where both short breaks in daily life and longer periods of rest are valued. The practice of休息 is considered essential in Japanese society, reflecting the importance of balancing work and leisure. Indeed, the concept of 「休み」is not limited to physical rest alone, but also encompasses a mental state of relaxation and well-being.

In everyday language, 「休み」 can be used in different ways to indicate various types of rest. For example, when someone refers to a "holiday" or "day off," the expression used can be 「休みの日」(yasumi no hi). To mention vacations, the term often used is 「夏休み」(natsu yasumi) for "summer vacation" or 「冬休み」(fuyu yasumi) for "winter vacation." Such expressions illustrate the flexibility and variety of contexts in which 「休み」 can be applied in the Japanese language.

In general, the concept of 「休み」 is deeply integrated into the Japanese lifestyle, emphasizing the harmony between work and rest. The varied use of the word reflects a unique cultural appreciation for the deserved pause amidst the fast pace of everyday life, promoting the physical and mental well-being of individuals. Thus, 「休み」 is not just a word but a cultural reminder of the importance of the balance between duty and leisure.

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Synonyms and similar words

• 休息 (Kyūsoku) - Rest, break.
• 休暇 (Kyūka) - Holidays, leave or extended time off.
• 休憩 (Kyūkei) - Break for rest, interval.
• 休止 (Kyūshi) - Interruption, pause in an activity.
• 休日 (Kyūjitsu) - Day off, holiday.
• 休養 (Kyūyō) - Recovery, prolonged rest for health.
• 休眠 (Kyūmin) - Rest or hibernation, usually used in contexts of nature or prolonged sleep.
• 休息時間 (Kyūsokujikan) - Rest time.
• 休み時間 (Yasumi jikan) - Break time or rest interval.
• 休み日 (Yasumibi) - Day off.
• 休み期間 (Yasumi kikan) - Time off.

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休み

Romaji: yasumi
Kana: やすみ
Type: noun
L: jlpt-n5

Translation / Meaning: Rest; interval; relief; suspension; vacation; holiday; absence; changes.

Meaning in English: rest;recess;respite;suspension;vacation;holiday;absence;moulting

Definition: To take a break from activities such as work or school.

Example Sentences - (休み) yasumi

See below some example sentences:

私たちは別荘で夏休みを過ごしました。

Watashitachi wa bessou de natsuyasumi o sugoshimashita

We spend the summer vacation in a country house.

We spend summer holidays in the village.

• 私たちは - Personal pronoun "we"
• 別荘で - location "in the country house"
• 夏休みを - summer vacation" period
• 過ごしました - verb "passamos"

明日はお休みです。

Ashita wa oyasumi desu

Tomorrow is a day off.

It is closed tomorrow.

• 明日 - It means "tomorrow".
• は - topic particle, indicates that the subject of the sentence is "tomorrow"
• お休み - "means 'time off', 'rest'"
• です - Verb "to be" in polite form

やっと夏休みが始まった。

Yatto natsuyasumi ga hajimatta

Finally the summer vacation has started.

Summer vacation has finally started.

• やっと - finally
• 夏休み - Summer holidays
• が - subject particle
• 始まった - começou

一休みしましょう。

Ichi kyuu mi shimashou

Let's take a coffee break.

Let's take a coffee break.

• 一 - means "one" or "first".
• 休み - means "rest".
• しましょう - is a polite way of saying "let's do it", indicating a suggestion or invitation.

三日間休みが欲しいです。

Mikka kan yasumi ga hoshii desu

I want three days off.

I want a three-day break.

• 三日間 (mikakan) - "三日" em japonês significa "três dias".
• 休み (yasumi) - It means "holiday" or "rest" in Japanese.
• が (ga) - Japanese grammatical particle that indicates the subject of the sentence.
• 欲しい (hoshii) - Japanese verb that means "to want" or "to desire"
• です (desu) - Japanese copula that indicates the present tense and the formality of the sentence.

五日間休みを取ります。

Gonichikan yasumi wo torimasu

I will take five days off.

Take a day off for five days.

• 五日間 (gokakan) - five days
• 休み (yasumi) - Time off, rest
• を (wo) - direct object particle
• 取ります (torimasu) - take, remove, obtain

六日間休みを取ります。

Rokka kan yasumi wo torimasu

I'm taking six days off.

Take a break for six days.

• 六日間 - six days
• 休み - holiday
• を - object particle
• 取ります - take, remove, obtain

十日間休みを取ります。

Jūnichi kan yasumi o torimasu

I'm taking ten days off.

Take a day off for ten days.

• 十日間 (juunichikan) - ten days
• 休み (yasumi) - Time off, rest
• を (wo) - direct object particle
• 取ります (torimasu) - take, remove, obtain

四日間休みが欲しいです。

Yokka kan yasumi ga hoshii desu

I want four days off.

I want a four-day break.

• 四日間 - "四日" em japonês.
• 休み - It means "rest" or "day off" in Japanese.
• が - Japanese particle that indicates the subject of the sentence.
• 欲しい - Japanese verb that means "to want" or "to desire".
• です - The polite and respectful form of the verb "to be" in Japanese is "です" (desu).

土曜日は休みです。

Doyōbi wa yasumi desu

Saturday is a day off.

It is closed on Saturday.

• 土曜日 - Saturday
• は - Topic particle
• 休み - rest, time off
• です - Verb to be/estar in the present