休

xiū

亻 + 木

Definitions

xiū (verb) to rest; to stop; to pause

xiū (particle) don't (imperative)

Etymology

Depicts a person (亻) resting under a tree (木).

About

The character 休 is an ideographic compound that pairs the person component 亻 on the left with the tree 木 on the right. This arrangement vividly depicts a person resting under a tree, yielding the primary senses of resting, pausing, or taking a break from labor. Over centuries, these meanings extended to include retirement, taking a leave of absence, and in certain contexts, the broader idea of stopping or giving up entirely.

Etymology Hide

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal etymology image

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Cao Wei (Three Kingdoms: 222-280 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我们休息一下吧。

Wǒmen xiūxi yīxià ba.

Let's take a break.

他每天休息十分钟。

Tā měitiān xiūxi shí fēnzhōng.

He rests for ten minutes every day.

我的爷爷已经退休了。

Wǒ de yéye yǐjīng tuìxiū le.

My grandfather has already retired.

他因为生病而休学。

Tā yīnwèi shēngbìng ér xiūxué.

He suspended his studies due to illness.

公园里有休憩的长椅。

Gōngyuán lǐ yǒu xiūqì de chángyǐ.

There are benches for resting in the park.

如果你累了，就休息一会儿。

Rúguǒ nǐ lèi le, jiù xiūxi yīhuìr.

If you are tired, rest for a while.

公司决定休假一天以庆祝成功。

Gōngsī juédìng xiūjià yī tiān yǐ qìngzhù chénggōng.

The company decided to take a day off to celebrate the success.

在完成这个项目之前，我们决不能休息。

Zài wánchéng zhège xiàngmù zhīqián, wǒmen jué bùnéng xiūxi.

Before completing this project, we absolutely cannot rest.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 亻

Component: 木

Example Words