休 (xiū) - Meaning, Stroke Order, Words & Examples

Q: What does 休 (xiū) mean in Chinese?

The Chinese character 休 (xiū) means "To rest; to stop; to divorce". It is an HSK Level 1 character, with 6 strokes and the radical 亻.

Q: How do you write 休 stroke by stroke?

休 has 6 strokes. The radical is 亻. Follow the standard stroke order: top to bottom, left to right, outside before inside. Practice with stroke animation to build muscle memory.

Q: What's the difference between 休 and 什?

休 (xiū) and 什 look similar but differ in meaning and usage. Check the radical and stroke count to tell them apart.

Q: What mistakes do learners make writing 休?

Common mistake: incorrect stroke order or miswriting the radical 亻. Pay attention to the proportion between components — keep the radical compact.

Q: What common words use 休?

Common words containing 休 include: 休息 (xiū xī) — To rest; to take a break; 休假 (xiū jià) — To take a vacation; to be on leave; 退休 (tuì xiū) — to retire.

How to Write 休

The character 休 (xiū) is written with 6 strokes. Follow the standard Chinese stroke order: top to bottom, left to right, outside before inside. The radical 亻 is one of its key components.

Practice the correct stroke order with the Hanzi Writer app to see animated stroke-by-stroke guidance with real-time feedback.

Meaning & Pronunciation

休 is pronounced xiū in Mandarin Chinese. It means To rest; to stop; to divorce.

As an HSK Level 1 character, 休 is among the first characters beginners learn.

Common Words with 休

休息 xiū xī

To rest; to take a break

休假 xiū jià

To take a vacation; to be on leave

退休 tuì xiū

to retire

Example Sentences

我们休息十分钟吧。

wǒ men xiū xī shí fēn zhōng ba

Let's take a ten-minute break.

他下周要休假。

tā xià zhōu yào xiū jià

He is going on vacation next week.

我爷爷去年退休了。

wǒ yé yé qù nián tuì xiū le

My grandfather retired last year.

Similar Characters

什 shén

仁 rén

仂 lè

Practice Writing 休 (xiū)

Open Hanzi Writer to see the animated stroke order and practice writing 休 with real-time feedback.

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Frequently Asked Questions about 休

What does 休 (xiū) mean in Chinese?

How do you write 休 stroke by stroke?

What's the difference between 休 and 什?

What mistakes do learners make writing 休?

What common words use 休?

How to Write 休 (xiū)