What does it mean word for word?
The phrase 휴식을 취하다 can be broken down into 휴식, which means 'rest' and 취하다, which is a formal verb meaning 'to take'.
Which one should you use?
While 쉬다 is a general verb for resting, 휴식을 취하다 is a more formal way to express the same idea. For casual communication, you might see the form 휴식 좀 취해.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The verb can be adjusted based on the level of respect required. 쉬다 is the base form. For formal or highly respectful settings, you can use the imperative 쉬십시오 or the phrase 휴식을 취하다. In polite everyday speech, use the form 쉬어요 or the polite imperative 쉬세요. In informal or casual settings, use 쉬어 or the phrase 휴식 좀 취해.
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb changes form depending on tense and politeness. The polite form is 쉬어요 (I rest / You rest / He rests). To politely tell someone to rest, use the imperative 쉬세요. To describe someone who is currently in the middle of resting, use the continuous form 쉬고 있어요. In informal speech, the past tense is 쉬었어.
How do you pronounce it?
swida
Did you know?
- The verb 쉬다 is a homonym that can also mean 'to be sour' or 'to go bad' when referring to food like kimchi.
- While 쉬다 is used for resting, the formal verb 취하다 in 휴식을 취하다 also means 'to get drunk' in common conversation.
- The native word 쉬다 is used in the common expression 숨을 쉬다, which means 'to breathe', linking the act of resting to the basic biological function of respiration.
Examples in context
- 저는 지금 휴식이 필요합니다.I need rest now.
- 오늘 정말 힘들어서 좀 쉬고 싶어.I've had a tough day today, so I want to rest a bit.
Example conversation
Subin and Hyunwoo are hiking up a mountain.
- 수빈 Su-bin현우 씨, 너무 힘들어요.Hyeon-u ssi, neomu himdeureoyo.Hyunwoo, I'm too tired.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo그럼 여기서 좀 쉴까요?geureom yeogiseo jom swilkkayo?Then shall we take a rest here for a bit?
- 수빈 Su-bin네, 저도 쉬고 싶어요.ne, jeodo swigo sipeoyo.Yes, I want to take a rest too.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo저기 벤치에서 같이 쉬다 가요.jeogi benchi-eseo gat-i swida gayo.Let's take a rest on that bench over there before we go.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 쉬다, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
