What is the meaning of the kanji 休 ?

Hi everyone! Today, I'd like to talk about the meaning of the kanji 休.

Kanji is one of the 3 Japanese writing systems which came from China to Japan in 5th century.

Almost all kanji are composed of several elements (radicals) and each element has a meaning.

Meaning of the kanji 休 

休 has 2 radicals (elements) : a person (the left radical: 亻, a slimmed-down version of the kanji for person: 人) and a tree (the right radical: 木).

This kanji is describing a scene like this:

As you may have guessed, the answer is 2 "to rest" !

Together these radicals show us a person resting under a tree, in the shade, in a spring breeze.. Well maybe !

How is it used? 

 We now use this kanji in the verb "to rest": 休みます (yasumi-masu), as well as in other similar words.

          わたしは へやで 休みます。 (Watashi wa heya de yasumi-masu)

           I rest in my room.

This kanji can also be used in nouns such as 休み (yasumi) which can mean "break" and can indicate that somewhere is "closed", like a store.

At any rate, whenever you see this kanji, you'll know that someone is taking a rest, a break or even a holiday!

Some other useful words that use this kanji:

           昼休み  (hiru yasumi)              夏休み  (natsu yasumi)

           lunch break                 　　　 summer holidays

           銀行は休みです  (Ginkō wa yasumi desu)

            The bank is closed.

What are you planning to do on your next 夏休み (natsu yasumi) ？ 😉