Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
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
By ear
Play it, then pick what 休 means.
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
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
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
Premium — Locked
AI tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 休 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 休 through them.
Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 300 AI credits.
How Well Do You Know 休?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 休 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
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
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 休 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Write correctly 3 times to earn XP
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.
