The Meaning of hitoyasumi [一休み] In Japanese

一休み
ひとやすみ
Romaji: hitoyasumi N5

What does 一休み mean?

Translation and Meaning

a short rest, a breather, a break

Definition

A short rest taken during activity to refresh. A brief pause used to recover energy, often by sitting or relaxing briefly between tasks.

Type

noun (名詞); can take suru-verb form as 一休みする

Stroke Order

Meanings

  • A brief pause during work, study, or travel to regain energy
  • The act of taking a short rest, often with 一休みする
  • Casual suggestion or plan to pause and rest in daily life

Etymology

From the native ひと (one) and やすみ (rest); a straightforward native compound read as hitoyasumi.

Composition

  • 一 = one
  • 休み = rest, the noun form of 休む

Usage

Used to describe taking a brief rest in daily activities, often with the verb 一休みする to indicate the act; common in conversation among colleagues, students, travelers, and family; in formal writing, alternatives like 休憩 may be used.
💡 Tips
Mnemonic: imagine a single person taking a pause under a tree; the kanji 一 represents the single pause and 休み under a tree conveys rest, together signaling a single short rest.

Variations

  • ひと休み (hitoyasumi) — same meaning
  • 休憩 (kyūkei) — a break; more general
  • 休息 (kyūsoku) — rest or repose; more formal nuance

Example Phrases

  • 昼食後に 一休みしてから、 軽いストレッチをして コーヒーを飲んで、 作業へ戻る。
    Chūshoku go ni hitoyasumi shite kara, karui sutorecchi o shite kōhī o nonde, sagyō e modoru.
    After lunch, I take a short rest, do a light stretch, drink coffee, and return to work.
    Lista:
    • 昼食後に (Chūshoku go ni) – after lunch
    • 一休みしてから (hitoyasumi shite kara) – after taking a short rest
    • 軽いストレッチをして (karui sutorecchi o shite) – doing a light stretch
    • コーヒーを飲んで (kōhī o nonde) – drinking coffee
    • 作業へ戻る (sagyō e modoru) – return to work
    The noun 「一休み」 means a short rest; here it forms the sequence 「一休みしてから」 to indicate doing a break before the next action.
一休み