How to Say "Recess" in Japanese

休み時間

yasumi jikan

Recess in Japanese is 休み時間 (yasumi jikan). Wiktionary also lists 休憩時間 (kyūkē jikan).

Meaning: time away from studying during the school day for a meal or recreation (noun)

Ways to say it

“recess” in Japanese
Japanese	Romanization (Wiktionary)
休み時間	yasumi jikan
休憩時間	kyūkē jikan

The term refers to a period during the school day designated for a meal or recreation.

The phrase 休み時間 is composed of 休み (yasumi), meaning 'rest' or 'holiday' and 時間 (jikan), meaning 'time'.

休憩時間 (kyūkē jikan) is more formal and is often used in professional or official contexts, such as a scheduled break during a seminar or a work shift.

In certain areas, the term おやつ (oyatsu), which usually means 'snack', is used to refer to recess.

yasumi jikan

The kanji 休 in 休み is a compound of the characters for 'person' and 'tree', visually representing a person leaning against a tree to rest.
In many Japanese primary schools, students do not go to a separate cafeteria for 休み時間 but eat their lunch at their desks in the same classroom.
Japanese schools often have a designated 当番 (tōban) or 'student on duty' who manages classroom tasks during 休み時間.

授業の間には、10分間の休憩があります。
During class, we have a 10-minute recess.
給食時間の後、昼休みがあります。
After lunchtime, there is a recess.
この会議の間に、休憩はありますか？
Is there a recess during this meeting?
彼女と休み時間に会って話しました。
I met and talked with her during the recess time.
休み時間はいつですか？
Yasumi jikan wa itsu desu ka?
When is recess?
休み時間に公園へ行きましょう。
Yasumi jikan ni kouen e ikimashou.
Let's go to the park during recess.
休み時間はとても短いです。
Yasumi jikan wa totemo mijikai desu.
Recess is very short.

Two students are talking in a classroom.

健太 Kenta

陽葵、休み時間に何をする？
Himari, yasumi jikan ni nani o suru?
Himari, what are you doing during recess?
陽葵 Himari

図書室に行こうと思っているよ。
Toshoshitsu ni ikou to omotte iru yo.
I'm thinking of going to the library.
健太 Kenta

いい考えだね。僕も一緒に行くよ。
Ii kangae da ne. Boku mo issho ni iku yo.
That's a good idea. I'll go with you.
陽葵 Himari

健太、ありがとう！楽しみだね。
Kenta, arigatou! Tanoshimi da ne.
Thanks, Kenta! I'm looking forward to it.

Sources

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