休息一下
xiūxi yíxià
In Chinese, 'take a break' can be expressed as 休息一下 (xiūxi yíxià).
The phrase 休息一下 is used to mean 'take a break for a while.' It is used when someone needs a short rest period during work.
Meaning: to have a short rest period in one's work (verb)
What does it mean word for word?
The expression is a verb-object construction where 休息 means 'to rest' and 一下 is used to soften the tone, suggesting a short duration of time.
Which one should you use?
While 休息 means 'to rest,' adding 一下 makes the phrase sound much more natural and less abrupt when suggesting a short pause in conversation or work.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase 休息一下 functions as a verb-object construction. To make the phrase a suggestion or a gentle command, you can add the particle 吧 to the end, forming 休息一下吧. This is the most natural way to propose a break to others.
How do you pronounce it?
xiūxi yíxià
Did you know?
- In Chinese workplace culture, a mid-day 休息 often includes a 'wujiao' or power nap, where employees may sleep at their desks.
- While 休息 means 'to rest', the word 'xiū' (休) is visually composed of two parts: a 'person' (人) leaning against a 'tree' (木). This visual provides a perfect mnemonic for the concept of resting.
- In some professional contexts, saying 休息 can be a veiled way of saying someone is being 'benched' or sidelined from a project.
Examples in context
- 休息一下吧。Take a break.This sentence shows how to use 休息一下 as a simple suggestion.Tatoeba #14004679 by jan_OkulaJu, translation #2250035 by CK
- 为什么你不休息一下?Why don't you take a break?This sentence uses 休息一下 to ask a question about why someone isn't taking a break.Tatoeba #1441776 by iMaple, translation #2210905 by CK
- 我们休息一下，好吗？Let's take a break, OK?This sentence shows how to use 休息一下 to propose a break to a group of people.Tatoeba #13994932 by jan_OkulaJu, translation #5178438 by CK
- 你已经工作了很长时间了，休息一下吧。You have been working for a long time, take a break.
- 我们已经连续开会了几个小时，请稍作休息。We have been having consecutive meetings for a few hours, please take a brief break.
- 咱们打篮球打了两个小时了，休息一会儿吧。We have been playing basketball for two hours, let's take a break for a while.
- 天气这么热，我们走路累了，歇一下吧。The weather is so hot, we are tired from walking, let's take a break.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two colleagues are working in an office.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen俊杰，我们要不要休息一下？Jùnjié, wǒmen yào bùyào xiūxi yīxià?Junjie, do you want to take a break?
- 俊杰 Junjie好主意，我也觉得累了。Hǎo zhǔyì, wǒ yě juéde lèi le.Good idea, I feel tired too.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen那我们去喝杯咖啡吧。Nà wǒmen qù hē bēi kāfēi ba.Then let's go grab a coffee.
- 俊杰 Junjie没问题，走吧。Méi wèntí, zǒu ba.No problem, let's go.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
