CHARACTERS · CULTURE · CONTEXT

休 (Xiū): Meaning, Character Structure and Reflection

休 is commonly pronounced xiū and can mean to rest or to stop. You will see it in words such as 休息 (xiūxi, to rest). In its modern form, the person component 亻 stands beside 木, a tree. The diagram is a way to look at the form, not a prediction about a person.

Edited by Hanzi Studio · Reviewed

亻 + 木 → 休
Original diagram of the modern form. Cultural associations are explained separately below.

Meaning depends on the word

In 休息, the character concerns rest. In 休学 (xiūxué), it concerns a break from study, and in 退休 (tuìxiū), retirement. In expressions such as 休想, 休 has a prohibitive sense. It is therefore misleading to translate every appearance of the character as “rest.”

The Ministry of Education dictionary also records xǔ and xiǔ for particular historical or lexical uses. This introduction focuses on common xiū usage; consult the relevant entry when reading an unfamiliar compound or an older text.

An original question to reflect on

A person beside a tree can suggest having somewhere to pause. Our prompt is: “What would give me enough support to take a useful break?” You might think about your schedule, a place or a person. This is a creative invitation, not an ancient quotation or advice derived from a forecast.

If you enjoy this way of reading, compare 休 with 明 and 林. Notice what is supported by the dictionary and what we have added as a cultural association.

Sources and reading notes

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