How to Write 憩 (qì) — Meaning “to rest”

Imagine you are so tired that your tongue (舌) sticks out, your nose (自) takes deep breaths, and your heart (心) finally relaxes—this means you need to 'rest' (憩). The picture of a person letting all body parts go idle helps you recall the meaning.

Write the top part 舌 first (3 strokes), then the middle 自 (6 strokes), and finally the bottom 心 (4 strokes) for a total of 16 strokes. Keep the 心 radical wide and flat to support the upper elements—a common mistake is making 心 too narrow, which unbalances the character.

憩 (to rest) always has the 'tongue' (舌) and 'self' (自) above the heart, while 㥯 (an ancient variant rarely used) lacks clear modern meaning. 愿 (yuàn, wish) has an 'original/origin' (原) above the heart—its meaning is about desire, not resting.

憩 appears in formal or literary contexts like 休憩 (rest) for breaks at work or 小憩 (short nap) for a quick rest during travel. It is not common in daily conversation but is often seen on park benches or signs inviting people to 'take rest' peacefully, reflecting a traditional value of balancing work with quiet relaxation.

Common words containing 憩 include: 休憩 (xiū qì) — To rest or relax; 小憩 (xiǎo qì) — to take a short nap; 憩息 (qì xī) — to take a rest.