休息
xiūxi
rest / take a break
休息 means to rest or take a break. It is used in both formal and casual settings and is essential for daily life, especially in demanding work or study environments.
Example sentences
你累了，休息一下吧。
Nǐ lèi le, xiūxi yíxià ba.
You are tired, take a break.
中午休息一个小时。
Zhōngwǔ xiūxi yí ge xiǎoshí.
Rest for one hour at noon.
How to use 休息 in practice
休息 is a work & study item that is easiest to learn inside a complete sentence. Read it with the pinyin xiūxi, then connect it to the meaning “rest / take a break” before trying to use it from memory. The examples on this page show the phrase in context: 你累了，休息一下吧。 / 中午休息一个小时。.
When you practice 休息, do not stop at recognition. Say one example aloud, swap in a new person, place, object, or time word, and then use the phrase in a short answer. This turns a glossary entry into real Mandarin output and exposes word-order or pronunciation mistakes quickly.
Common learner mistake
A common learner mistake is to memorize 休息 only as “rest / take a break” and then translate word by word from English. Instead, learn the whole chunk with the words around it. Notice which nouns, verbs, measure words, or polite markers appear before and after the phrase, and copy that pattern in your own sentence.
Mini practice prompt
Practice prompt: open Workplace office phrases guide, start a short conversation, and use 休息 naturally in your first or second reply. If the sentence feels awkward, compare it with the examples above and try again with a smaller sentence.
Memory tip: review 休息 tomorrow by covering the English meaning, reading only xiūxi, and producing a sentence before checking the examples. Active recall helps this word survive beyond one reading session.
Practice related pages
FAQ
How do I say "have a good rest"?
好好休息 is the most natural way. 休息好 also works, meaning to rest well.
How can I remember 休息 faster?
Say 休息 inside a full sentence, change one detail, and repeat it in a realistic prompt. The combination of sound, meaning, and context is stronger than memorizing the translation alone.
Can I use 休息 in conversation practice?
Yes. Start with the example sentence, then use 休息 in a short AI conversation so you can see whether the surrounding word order and tone feel natural.
Published by AI Chinese Coach