休
rest · day off · retire · sleep
Details
Stroke Order
Component Breakdown
person + tree
Cultural Context
Etymology
Person (人) leaning against a tree (木). Resting in the shade of a tree.
Symbolism
Rest, recovery, leisure. Increasingly important in modern Japan as warning against overwork.
Related Culture & Scenes
- — Deep in the forest
Words & Expressions
Four-Character Compounds
閑話休題
かんわきゅうだい
getting back to the subject at hand, ...; (but) to return to the main topic, ...; so much for digressions, ...; getting back to the subject at hand, ...
不眠不休
ふみんふきゅう
no sleep or rest; working day and night; no sleep or rest
Proverbs & Idioms
休むに似たり
やすむににたり
As good as resting
Doing nothing productive
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 休 mean in Japanese?
休 means rest, day off, retire, sleep.
How do you read 休?
On'yomi: キュウ (KYUU). Kun'yomi: やす.む、やす.まる、やす.める (yasumu, yasumaru, yasumeru).
How many strokes does 休 have?
休 has 6 strokes. Its radical is 人 (person).
Is 休 a good kanji for a tattoo?
Yes. 休 (rest, day off, retire, sleep) has a clear positive meaning and no embarrassing alternate readings, making it a solid tattoo choice.
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