ゆっくり休んでね
yukkuri yasunde ne
To say "have a good rest" in Japanese, use ゆっくり休んでね (yukkuri yasunde ne).
This phrase is a friendly wish used to encourage someone to relax and recover their energy. It is commonly said to someone who is feeling unwell, is tired from work or is about to go to bed. You can also use the informal variation 無理せずに休んでね to specifically suggest that the person rests without overexerting themselves.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of yukkuri (slowly/leisurely), yasunde (the te-form of the verb "to rest") and the particle ne (a softening particle used for seeking agreement or expressing friendliness).
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The default form ゆっくり休んでね is informal and should be used with friends, family members or people of equal or lower social status. If you are speaking to a superior, a teacher or someone you are not close with, use the polite form ゆっくり休んでください or the formal お休みください instead.
How do you pronounce it?
yukkuri yasunde ne
Did you know?
- The verb 休む (yasumu) can be used on its own to mean 'calling in sick' or 'skipping class' without mentioning a reason, as the focus is on the act of being absent.
- In Japan, suggesting someone 'rest' can be a socially delicate way of telling them they look visibly exhausted or unwell, even if you do not say it directly.
- When a person is seriously ill, people often switch from ゆっくり休んでね to お大事に (odaiji ni) to focus specifically on recovery and health care.
Examples in context
- ゆっくり休んでね。Have a good rest!This sentence is useful for practicing the phrase ゆっくり休んでね.Tatoeba #2456854 by tommy_san, translation #5941364 by peterius
- 風邪かな？無理しないで、ゆっくり休んでね。Kaze kana? Muri shinaide, yukkuri yasunde ne.Maybe it's a cold? Don't overdo it, and have a good rest.
Example conversation
Yota is saying goodbye to Himari at the end of a long day.
- 陽太 Yota今日は一日中歩いて大変だったね。Kyō wa ichinichijū aruite taihen datta ne.It was hard walking all day today, wasn't it?
- 陽葵 Himari本当に。足がすごく痛いよ。Hontō ni. Ashi ga sugoku itai yo.It really was. My feet hurt a lot.
- 陽太 Yotaじゃあ、家でゆっくり休んでね。Jā, ie de yukkuri yasunde ne.Well, have a good rest at home.
- 陽葵 Himariありがとう。陽太もゆっくり休んでね。Arigatō. Yota mo yukkuri yasunde ne.Thank you. You have a good rest too, Yota.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
