How to say "holiday" in Japanese

• 休日きゅうじつCommon
  nounA common word for a day on which one does not work — a public holiday, Sunday, or day off. It refers to the day itself, not to a trip or a period of leave.
  クリスマスは特別とくべつな休日きゅうじつだ。↗

  Christmas is a special holiday.
• 休暇きゅうかJLPT N3approx.Common
  nounCovers 'holiday' as vacation or leave — a stretch of time away from work or school. Use it for time off you take, as opposed to a day that simply is a holiday.
  私は休暇きゅうかで出でかけていました。↗

  I was out of town on vacation.
• ホリデーCommon
  nounThe borrowed English word. It is not how you would say you are taking a day off or going on vacation; it shows up mostly in set phrases and commercial or event language.
• おやすみJLPT N2approx.Common
  nounA soft, polite way to speak of a day off or an absence, as in telling someone you are off tomorrow. Also the familiar bedtime 'goodnight', so context tells which is meant.
  感謝祭かんしゃさいのお休やすみ、楽たのしんでね。↗

  Have a nice Thanksgiving!
• 休業きゅうぎょうJLPT N2approx.Common
  noun, suru verb, intransitive verbRefers to a store, school, or similar suspending operations — a temporary closure or shutdown. Its 'holiday' sense is only this business-closed one; it is not used for a person's own day off or vacation.
  移転いてんにともない５月がつ３０日にち、３１日にちは休業きゅうぎょういたします。↗

  Due to our office moving, we will be closed from May 30 to 31.

For a single non-working day use 休日; for a stretch of leave or vacation use 休暇; 「ホリデー」 is the borrowed English word; 「おやすみ」 politely announces a day off or absence; 休業 means a business or school is closed.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 休日きゅうじつholiday
• 休暇きゅうかholiday
• ホリデーholiday
• おやすみholiday
• 休業きゅうぎょうsuspension of business
• 紋日もんびholiday
• 物日ものびholiday
• 休みやすみvacation
• 暇ひまtime off
• ドンタクholiday
• いとまtime off
• 休場きゅうじょうholiday