憩う・息う|いこうikou[2]nakadaka (mid-high)
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Which spelling to use
憩う憩う is the more common kanji-and-kana spelling of the verb and the form beginners should choose.
息う息う is a rarely used kanji-and-kana spelling; learners may recognize it as a less common alternative but should choose 憩う instead.
Definitions
- godan verb, intransitive verbto rest; to relax; to repose
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 憩う（いこう） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 憩います（いこいます） |
| Negative (nai) | 憩わない（いこわない） |
| polite (masen) | 憩いません（いこいません） |
| classical zu / nu | 憩わず・憩わぬ（いこわず・いこわぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 憩った（いこった） |
| polite (mashita) | 憩いました（いこいました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 憩わなかった（いこわなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 憩いませんでした（いこいませんでした） |
| Te form | 憩って（いこって） |
| Potential | 憩える（いこえる） |
| Passive | 憩われる（いこわれる） |
| Causative | 憩わせる（いこわせる） |
| Causative passive | 憩わせられる・憩わされる（いこわせられる・いこわされる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 憩えば（いこえば） |
| tara | 憩ったら（いこったら） |
| Volitional | 憩おう（いこおう） |
| polite (mashou) | 憩いましょう（いこいましょう） |
| Imperative | 憩え（いこえ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym休むやすむNeutralThe everyday default: it covers resting, taking time off, and going to bed, so its range is far wider than 「憩う」, which sounds more refined.
- Synonym休憩きゅうけいNeutralNeutral: a short break during an activity; common in everyday speech and public announcements, as in 「休憩室」.
- Related休めるやすめるNeutralTransitive: to give your body, mind, or even a machine a rest, as in 「体を休める」. It also doubles as the potential form of 「休む」.
- Related休息きゅうそくWrittenA formal Sino-Japanese noun for stopping activity so the body can rest, as in 「十分な休息を取る」; it leans toward written or formal prose.
- Related息抜きいきぬきCasualColloquial: a brief pause to unwind and catch your breath, usually to refresh your mood; common in everyday speech.
- Related一休みひとやすみCasualColloquial for a short break; the pause is brief and it lacks the leisurely, comfortable flavor that 「憩う」 carries.
- Related休養きゅうようWrittenWritten/formal prose: rest taken to restore one's energy, as in 「週末は家で休養する」.
- Related静養せいようWrittenWritten and quite solemn: quiet recuperation, typically after illness or for imperial family members; weightier than 「憩う」.
- Related安らうやすらうWrittenA written, old-fashioned word for body and mind settling at ease; rare in modern use and even more archaic than 「憩う」.
- Related中休みなかやすみCasualColloquial: a break taken partway through work or an activity; the emphasis is on the middle stretch of it.
- Related息つくいきつくCasualColloquial: to catch one's breath, or figuratively to get a brief respite; it highlights a short pause amid busyness.
For everyday rest, say 「休む」 or 「休憩する」; 「憩う」 is the elegant choice for relaxing somewhere pleasant, as in 「木陰に憩う」. Use 「休養」 for resting to recover energy, 「静養」 for recuperating after illness, 「休息」 in formal prose, and 「息抜き」「一休み」「息つく」 for quick colloquial breathers; 「中休み」 is a mid-work break, 「休める」 is transitive, and 「安らう」 is archaic.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
