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作息 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
作息zuòxīwork and restHSK 6, n, 17 strokes, rank #31571, Hard
zuòxī(zuo4xi1)zuo xi T4
  1. 1work and rest
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March 24, 2026

作息zuòxī(zuo4xi1)

作息 refers to the routine of working and resting, encompassing the balance of time spent on work and leisure. It is commonly used in discussions about daily schedules, health, and productivity, emphasizing the importance of managing one's time effectively to maintain well-being.

Strokes17Frequency#31571DifficultyHard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, there's a strong emphasis on maintaining a balanced lifestyle, often linked to traditional concepts of health and harmony. The idea of 作息 reflects this belief, as proper balance is seen as essential for overall well-being.

Memory tip

Think of 作 (zuò) as 'to do' or 'to make' and 息 (xī) as 'to rest' or 'to breathe.' Imagine a person diligently working on a project (作) and then taking a deep breath (息) to refresh themselves. Visualize this cycle of productivity and relaxation to remember the meaning.

Meanings of 作息

zuòxī(zuo4xi1)
1work and rest
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About 作息

作息Simplified
17Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#31571Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSKKL3BCT✓CEFRC1

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Podcast: 作息

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AI Study Notes for 作息

Quick Contrast

休息 (xiūxī) refers specifically to rest or relaxation, while 作息 (zuòxī) encompasses both work and rest routines.

Usage Notes

作息 is typically used in formal contexts, such as discussions about health or work-life balance. A common mistake is to confuse it with just 'work' (工作 gōngzuò) without acknowledging the rest component. Remember to use it in phrases like '调整作息' (tiáozhěng zuòxī), meaning 'adjust one's work and rest schedule.'

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK Level 6 word, 作息 connects to other advanced vocabulary related to health and lifestyle, such as 健康 (jiànkāng, health) and 生活 (shēnghuó, life). Focus on using 作息 in context to describe your own daily routine or suggest improvements to others.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 作息 with simply 'work' and fail to include the 'rest' aspect. For example, saying '我的作息是每天工作' (Wǒ de zuòxī shì měitiān gōngzuò) is incorrect; it should include rest, like '我的作息是工作和休息' (Wǒ de zuòxī shì gōngzuò hé xiūxí).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 作息

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Component Characters

作zuōto do
HSK 67 strokes亻
View full entry
息xībreath
HSK 310 strokes心
View full entry

How to say work and rest in Chinese

“work and rest” in Chinese is作息zuòxī

作息 refers to the routine of working and resting, encompassing the balance of time spent on work and leisure. It is commonly used in discussions about daily schedules, health, and productivity, emphasizing the importance of managing one's time effectively to maintain well-being.

When to use 作息

作息 is typically used in formal contexts, such as discussions about health or work-life balance. A common mistake is to confuse it with just 'work' (工作 gōngzuò) without acknowledging the rest component. Remember to use it in phrases like '调整作息' (tiáozhěng zuòxī), meaning 'adjust one's work and rest schedule.'

作息 or something close to it

休息 (xiūxī) refers specifically to rest or relaxation, while 作息 (zuòxī) encompasses both work and rest routines.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 作息 with simply 'work' and fail to include the 'rest' aspect. For example, saying '我的作息是每天工作' (Wǒ de zuòxī shì měitiān gōngzuò) is incorrect; it should include rest, like '我的作息是工作和休息' (Wǒ de zuòxī shì gōngzuò hé xiūxí).

Write 作息

作
息

Practice writing 作息 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Frequently Asked Questions about 作息

You can say '我需要调整我的作息' (Wǒ xūyào tiáozhěng wǒ de zuòxī), which means 'I need to adjust my work and rest schedule.'

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