How do you say "to rest" in Japanese?

休む

yasumu

Verb Kanji

In Japanese, "to rest" is 休む (yasumu).

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Pronunciation

休む is written using kanji. Romanised as yasumu, it sounds roughly like "yah-soo-moo" to an English ear.

Writing and usage

The kanji 休 combines person and tree, originally suggesting someone resting against a tree. A common, basic kanji found in many daily phrases.

Example sentence

週末に休みますつもりです。

Shuumatsu ni yasumimasu tsumori desu.

I plan to to rest this weekend.

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How to remember 休む

A person leaning on a tree to rest. The two radical parts show someone taking shelter and recovering energy.

Related words

Browse all Japanese words in the glossary.

See more Japanese verbs.

Questions about 休む

How do you pronounce 休む?

休む is romanised as yasumu. Say it roughly like "yah-soo-moo" in English. Each Japanese syllable has even weight, so keep the rhythm steady.

Is 休む formal or casual?

休む is a neutral, everyday word that works in both casual and polite speech. The level of formality comes from the sentence structure around it, not from the word itself.

How is 休む written in Japanese?

休む is written using kanji. The kanji 休 combines person and tree, originally suggesting someone resting against a tree.

Where can I practice Japanese words for free?

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"To rest" in other languages

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