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March 24, 2026
休Xiū(Xiu1)
The character 休 (xiū) primarily means 'to rest' or 'to cease.' It is commonly used in contexts related to taking a break from work or stopping an activity temporarily. Additionally, it can function as an imperative, indicating a command not to do something.
Strokes6Radical亻Frequency#3125DifficultyEasy
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, taking a break or resting is often emphasized as essential for maintaining health and productivity. The concept of '休息' is deeply rooted in traditional Chinese medicine, which advocates for balance between work and rest.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person lying down under a tree (木) to take a restful break (休). The left side (亻) represents a person, and the right side (木) symbolizes a tree, together conveying the idea of a person resting.
Meanings of 休
Xiū(Xiu1)
1to rest
2to stop doing sth for a period of time
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 休
休Simplified
6Strokes
亻Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#3125Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L2
Podcast: 休
Podcast: 休
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AI Study Notes for 休
Quick Contrast
休 (xiū) vs 停 (tíng) — use 休 when emphasizing a break or rest, while 停 focuses on stopping an action.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 休 with 休息 (xiūxí), which means 'to take a break' or 'to rest.' This character is more informal and can be used in everyday conversation. Remember to use the correct tone; the first tone is important for clarity.
HSK Study Tips
While 休 is not listed in HSK levels, it connects well with other HSK Level 1 words related to actions, such as 做 (zuò - to do) and 吗 (ma - question particle). Focus on its usage in phrases to develop your vocabulary.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mistakenly use 休 to mean 'stop' in a formal context, which can sound abrupt. For example, saying '休工作' (xiū gōngzuò) instead of '停止工作' (tíngzhǐ gōngzuò) is awkward; the latter is more appropriate for stopping work formally.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 休
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Depicts a person (亻) leaning on a tree (木) to rest (休).
1The giveawayA person 亻 leaning against a tree 木
2On the record asideographic — someone drew an idea rather than an object.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 休? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 休?
Decomposition of 休
IDS Structure⿰亻木
休Full Character
=
亻ren2
left
木Mu4
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 休?
How to say to rest in Chinese
“to rest” in Chinese is休Xiū
The character 休 (xiū) primarily means 'to rest' or 'to cease.' It is commonly used in contexts related to taking a break from work or stopping an activity temporarily. Additionally, it can function as an imperative, indicating a command not to do something.
When to use 休
Be careful not to confuse 休 with 休息 (xiūxí), which means 'to take a break' or 'to rest.' This character is more informal and can be used in everyday conversation. Remember to use the correct tone; the first tone is important for clarity.
休 or something close to it
休 (xiū) vs 停 (tíng) — use 休 when emphasizing a break or rest, while 停 focuses on stopping an action.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mistakenly use 休 to mean 'stop' in a formal context, which can sound abrupt. For example, saying '休工作' (xiū gōngzuò) instead of '停止工作' (tíngzhǐ gōngzuò) is awkward; the latter is more appropriate for stopping work formally.
Write 休
休
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Practice writing 休 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 休
休 carries 6 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.
