Translation guide
The English word "rest" covers several distinct concepts in Japanese, including physical relaxation, taking a break, the remainder of something, and leaning an object against something. The most natural Japanese expression depends heavily on the specific meaning.
To relax one's body or mind, not necessarily sleeping.
General verb for resting, taking a break, or being absent from work/school.
少し休みましょう。
Let's rest a little.
今日は家で休んでいます。
I'm resting at home today.
More formal noun for rest or repose, often used in written or formal contexts.
十分な休息が必要です。
Adequate rest is necessary.
Common phrase meaning to take it easy, relax, or rest at leisure.
週末は家でゆっくりしたい。
I want to rest at home on the weekend.
To take a short rest or break, often during work or travel.
ここで一休みしませんか。
Shall we take a rest here?
A short interruption of activity to rest.
Standard word for a break or rest period, especially during work or study.
10分間の休憩を取りましょう。
Let's take a 10-minute rest.
休憩時間は15分です。
The rest break is 15 minutes.
Can mean a break, holiday, or day off. Context-dependent.
Resting by sleeping or lying down, often for health reasons.
To rest by sleeping. Natural way to say 'get some rest' implying sleep.
今日は早く寝て休みます。
I'll go to bed early and rest today.
Medical term for bed rest or staying quiet to recover.
医者に安静にするように言われた。
The doctor told me to rest.
The remaining part of something.
Noun meaning remainder, rest, or leftover.
残りのお金は明日払います。
I'll pay the rest of the money tomorrow.
残りは冷蔵庫に入れてください。
Please put the rest in the fridge.
Means 'the rest' in the sense of 'the others' or 'and so on', often for people or items.
Can mean remainder, but often implies surplus or excess. Less common for 'the rest' in neutral contexts.
To place something so it is supported against something else.
Transitive verb: to lean something against something else.
はしごを壁に立てかけた。
I rested the ladder against the wall.
To lean something against something, often with a sense of letting it rest there.
General verb 'to put/place'. Can be used for resting an object on a surface, but not specifically leaning.
カップをテーブルに置いてください。
Please rest your cup on the table.
Euphemism for death or the afterlife.
To sleep peacefully; common expression for 'rest in peace'.
故人の魂が安らかに眠りますように。
May the soul of the deceased rest in peace.
Formal/literary term for 'eternal sleep', i.e., death.
彼は昨夜永眠しました。
He passed away last night (entered eternal rest).
English 'take a rest' is often translated as 休憩を取る (kyūkei o toru) or 休む (yasumu), but 休みを取る (yasumi o toru) usually means 'take a day off'. Be careful with the particle and noun combination.
休む (yasumu) is the general verb 'to rest'. 休憩 (kyūkei) is a noun for a short break. 休息 (kyūsoku) is a more formal noun for rest/repose. Use 休憩 for coffee breaks, 休息 for medical or formal rest.
話の残りはつまらない。
The rest of the story is boring.
自転車をフェンスに立てかけて。
Rest the bike against the fence.
ちょっと休みにしよう。
Let's take a short rest.
The rest of the people, please wait here.
I cleaned in the rest of the time.
He rested his head against the sofa.