The word 休息 is formed by combining two pictographic characters that conceptually reinforce each other. The first character, 休, visually depicts a person (亻) leaning against a tree (木), representing the core idea of physical rest or pausing. The second character, 息, is itself a compound of "self" (自, originally a pictograph of a nose, implying the self) over "heart" (心), conveying the meaning of breath, cessation, or one's inner state. Together, they create a holistic concept where 休 emphasizes the bodily act of stopping labor, and 息 adds the dimension of ceasing activity to recover breath and composure, resulting in the comprehensive meaning of "to rest".