The word 休假 is formed by combining two characters, each contributing a core idea to create a unified concept. The first character, 休, depicts a person (亻) resting against a tree (木), conveying the fundamental meaning of "to rest" or "to stop". The second character, 假, carries the meaning of a "borrowed" period or an "interval", often used for a holiday or break. When joined, the two concepts fuse seamlessly: 休假 literally represents "resting during a borrowed interval", conceptually blending into the single idea of taking formal leave or going on vacation from one's duties.