v.
to rest; to take a break
休息
to rest; to take a break
To rest, take a break, or have time off (休 person leaning against tree + 息 breath); say 休息一下 (take a short break).
Common Usage & Traps
- 休息一下 — rest for a bit / take a short break
- 休息一会儿 — rest for a while
- 休息时间 — break time / rest time
- 早点休息 — get some rest / go to bed soon
- 在家休息 — rest at home
- 休息几天 — rest for a few days
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一个休息休息一下 / 休息一会儿English 'a rest' makes learners add 一个. 休息 is not counted like a thing.
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休息在家在家休息Place phrases go before the verb in Chinese.
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休息四五个天休息四五天天 already counts days; adding 个 sounds wrong.
At work, can you say 我需要一个休息 when you're wiped out?
No. Use 我需要休息一下 or 我需要休息.
English lets you say 'a rest,' so learners often add 一个 to 休息. But 休息 normally works as an action, not a countable object. If you want a short break, say 休息一下. If you just need rest, say 我需要休息. Adding 一个 makes it sound like you are ordering one rest from a menu.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Short break | 我需要休息一下。 | 我需要一个休息。 |
| General need | 我需要休息。 | 我需要一个休息。 |
| A while | 我需要休息一会儿。 | 我需要一个休息。 |
Where does 在家 go: 我在家休息 or 我休息在家?
Put 在家 before 休息: 我在家休息.
Chinese place phrases usually come before the verb they describe. So 在家 tells where the resting happens, and it sits right before 休息. Saying 我休息在家 breaks the normal order and sounds like an afterthought. The same pattern applies to time phrases: 我明天休息, not 我休息明天.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Place before verb | 我在家休息。 | 我休息在家。 |
| Time before verb | 我明天休息。 | 我休息明天。 |
| Place plus time | 我明天在家休息。 | 我休息在家明天。 |
Why do people say 休息四五天, not 休息四五个天?
Say 休息四五天. 天 already counts days, so don't add 个.
Time words like 天, 年, and 小时 often work as their own counting words. When you give a duration after 休息, just attach the number and 天 directly. Adding 个 before 天 is a common overuse of the default counting word. The same logic gives 休息三天, not 休息三个天.
“工作两三年，
休息四五天，
读书一小时，
吃饭五分钟。” (Work for two or three years, rest for four or five days, read for an hour, eat for five minutes.)
“工作两三年，
休息四五天，
读书一小时，
吃饭五分钟。” (Work for two or three years, rest for four or five days, read for an hour, eat for five minutes.)
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Four or five days | 休息四五天。 | 休息四五个天。 |
| Three days | 休息三天。 | 休息三个天。 |
| Many days | 休息很多天。 | 休息很多个天。 |
Appears in Stories 3 stories
Real context sentences across different daily scenarios and graded readings.
Meet Dr. Mi, a doctor and teacher at Sichuan University. This simple HSK 1 story shows his daily routine from morning to night, helping you learn time expressions and everyday activities.
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休息 一下儿，晚上七点，他吃晚饭。
This playful poem turns numbers into a rhythm of daily life. As you read, practice counting, days of the week, and common time words in a fun, memorable way.
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工作两三年， 休息 四五天，读书一小时，吃饭五分钟。
Follow a traveler's unexpected hospital stay in China, where counting days and costs becomes practical learning. Practice numbers, dates, food prices, and simple descriptions of a doctor and room.
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休息 两星期，七天住医院医生人很好，房间大漂亮。
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