学校の休み
gakkō no yasumi
The phrase school holidays is expressed in Japanese as 学校の休み (gakkō no yasumi).
学校の休み refers to the periods of time when students are not required to attend classes. While this is a general term, you can be more specific by using terms for particular seasons: 夏休み for summer vacation, 冬休み for winter vacation and 春休み for spring break. In informal conversations, you may also simply use 休み to mean holiday or vacation.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 学校 (gakkō, school), the possessive particle の (no) and 休み (yasumi, rest or break), literally meaning 'school's rest/break'.
Which one should you use?
学校の休み is a common, everyday way to say school holidays. In contrast, 夏休み is the specific and more common way to refer to the summer holiday period specifically.
How do you pronounce it?
gakkō no yasumi
Did you know?
- In Japan, the term 春休み (spring break) is often shorter than other breaks because it coincides with the transition to a new school year in April.
- During 夏休み, students often complete a project called 自由研究 (jiyū kenkyū), where they must research a topic of their choice.
- The word 休み is rooted in the verb 休む (yasumu), which means to rest but also to be absent from a duty or a specific place.
Examples in context
- なぁ、夏休みの計画はもう立てた？Hey, have you already made plans for the summer vacation?
- 学校の休みに合わせて、海に行く予定だ。I'm planning to go to the beach during the school holidays.
- 学校の休みはいつからですか？Gakkō no yasumi wa itsu kara desu ka?When do the school holidays start?
- 学校の休みはとても長いです。Gakkō no yasumi wa totemo nagai desu.The school holidays are very long.
- 学校の休み中に旅行に行きたいです。Gakkō no yasumi chū ni ryokō ni ikitai desu.I want to go on a trip during the school holidays.
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about their upcoming plans.
- 結衣 Yui健太くん、学校の休みは何をするの？Kenta-kun, gakkō no yasumi wa nani o suru no?Kenta, what are you doing during the school holidays?
- 健太 Kenta家でゆっくりゲームをしたいな。Ie de yukkuri gēmu o shitai na.I want to relax and play games at home.
- 結衣 Yuiそれはいいけど、宿題もあるよ。Sore wa ii kedo, shukudai mo aru yo.That sounds nice, but you have homework too.
- 健太 Kentaあ、忘れてた！早く終わらせるよ。A, wasureteta! Hayaku owaraseru yo.Oh, I forgot! I'll finish it quickly.
