休息一下吧
xiūxi yīxià ba
Take a break
休息一下吧 (Xiūxi yíxià ba) is a common and friendly way to suggest taking a short break or resting for a moment. The particle “一下” softens the verb, making the suggestion gentle.
What does 休息一下吧 (xiūxi yīxià ba) mean?
休息一下吧 (xiūxi yīxià ba) means “take a break” in English. Word for word, it breaks down as “rest a moment (suggestion).”
When to use it
Neutral and friendly. It's suitable for colleagues, friends, or family. For a more direct command, you could just say 休息 (xiūxi), but adding 一下吧 makes it much softer and more inviting.
How to pronounce it
Sounds like “SHYOH-shee ee-SHYAH bah.” The first syllable of 休息 is a high, level tone, and the second is a light, neutral tone. 一下 has a rising tone on 一, followed by a falling tone on 下. 吧 is a light, neutral tone.
Other ways to say it
- 休息一下xiūxi yīxiàtake a break (less suggestive)
- 休息一会儿xiūxi yīhuìrrest for a while
- 歇会儿xiē huìrtake a short rest (casual)
Examples
我们工作了很久，休息一下吧。
wǒmen gōngzuò le hěn jiǔ, xiūxi yīxià ba.
We've been working for a long time, let's take a break.
你看起来很累，休息一下吧。
nǐ kàn qǐlái hěn lèi, xiūxi yīxià ba.
You look very tired, take a break.
午饭后，大家可以休息一下。
wǔfàn hòu, dàjiā kěyǐ xiūxi yīxià.
After lunch, everyone can take a break.
Pro tip: The particle 吧 (ba) at the end of a sentence turns it into a suggestion or a mild command, making it sound more inviting and less forceful.
Related phrases
小心 · Watch out注意安全 · Stay safe我累了 · I'm tired
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