休息
xiūxí · HSK 1
respire
😴 休息 = 休 (rest) + 息 (breath); a person leaning on a tree, breathing easy
休 shows 人 (person) beside 木 (tree) — stopping to lean. 息 is 自 (nose, old form of self) over 心 (heart) — breath from the chest. Together: rest and breathe.
xiū xi · HSK 2
to rest
😴 休 = person 亻 leaning on tree 木 = rest; 息 = self 自 + heart 心 = breath
休 shows a person beside a tree, the classic rest pose. 息 combines 自 (nose/self) over 心 (heart), originally meaning breath — by extension, to catch one's breath. Together: take a breather.