休み|やすみyasumi[0]heiban (flat)
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- nounrest; recess; respite
- nounvacation; holiday; absence; suspension
- noundormancy (of a silkworm prior to moulting)
- Synonym一休みひとやすみCasualA casual word for a short breather taken partway through work, as in 「ここで一休み」; the pause is brief, and it never refers to a holiday.
- SynonymブレイクCasualA casual loanword for a brief pause in activity, as in 「コーヒーブレイク」; it also means a rise to fame or, in tennis, a service break.
- Synonym休憩きゅうけいNeutralA rest period in the middle of work or study, as in 「休憩室」; unlike 「休み」 it is not used for holidays or days off.
- Synonym休息きゅうそくWrittenStopping activity to let the body recover; it centres on the rest itself and leans toward written or formal prose.
- Synonym一息ひといきCasualA colloquial word for a quick pause to catch one's breath; it also means finishing something in one go, as in 「一息に」.
- Synonym息抜きいきぬきCasualA casual word for stepping away to relieve tension, as in 「息抜きに散歩する」; the emphasis is on unwinding rather than the break itself.
- SynonymレストWrittenA loanword rarely used on its own; it appears mostly in compounds such as 「レストルーム」 and 「レストハウス」.
- Synonym休止きゅうしWrittenA temporary halt of activity or operation, as in 「運転休止」; used mainly for machines and services, not for people resting.
- Synonym休暇きゅうかWrittenLeave formally granted by a company or school, as in 「有給休暇」; more formal than 「休み」.
- Synonym休日きゅうじつNeutralThe day on which one is off, as in 「休日出勤」; it points to the calendar day rather than the rest taken.
- Synonym休養きゅうようWrittenRecuperating by taking time off to restore energy, as in 「休養が必要」 or 「十分な休養を取る」; it carries a nuance of rebuilding strength.
- SynonymおやすみCasualThe polite form of 「休み」; it also serves as the bedtime greeting 「おやすみなさい」.
- Synonym中休みなかやすみNeutralA break taken midway through work or an activity; it can also name a spell of rest inside a longer stretch, as distinct from a workday that falls between holidays.
- Synonym小憩しょうけいWrittenA written word for a brief rest; rare in everyday speech, where 「一休み」 or 「休憩」 would be said instead.
- Synonym骨休めほねやすめCasualA colloquial word for resting a tired body, as in 「温泉で骨休め」; it carries the nuance of treating yourself after hard work.
- Related憩いいこいWrittenA leisurely rest, often describing places, as in 「市民の憩いの場」; it has a soft, literary tone.
- RelatedホリデーNeutralA loanword for a holiday; mostly seen in compounds such as 「ホリデーシーズン」 rather than on its own.
- Related暇ひまCasualColloquial for free time with nothing to do, as in 「暇がある」; 「休み」 is time off from work or study, or a holiday itself.
- Related幕間まくあいFormalThe interval between acts of a play; a formal term used only for stage performances.
- RelatedリラクゼーションWrittenA loanword for physical and mental relaxation; common in advertising for spas, massage and beauty treatments.
- RelatedくつろぎWrittenBeing at ease and unhurried, as in 「寛ぎの時間」; it stresses a feeling of comfort rather than a break from work.
- RelatedバケーションWrittenA loanword for a long vacation spent holidaying, as in 「サマーバケーション」; it has a leisurely, resort-like flavour.
- Related中入りなかいりFormalThe intermission in sumo or theatre; a formal specialist term, not everyday speech.
- Antonym働きはたらきNeutralThe opposite of 「休み」: work or labour, and by extension its results and performance.
- Antonym勤めつとめFormalThe opposite of 「休み」: working at a company or office; it also means one's duties or responsibilities.
For rest or a holiday, 「休み」 is the default. For a break in the middle of work or study, use 「休憩」 or the colloquial 「一休み」; for the day itself, 「休日」; for approved leave, 「休暇」; for a long resort-style holiday, 「バケーション」; for free time with nothing to do, 「暇」. 「息抜き」 and 「骨休め」 stress unwinding, 「休養」 recuperation, 「休止」 a halt to machines or activities, 「中入り」 and 「幕間」 stage intermissions, and 「お休み」 is the polite form and a bedtime greeting.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only


