Meaning
The kanji 憩 carries the meaning of rest, repose, and genuine relaxation — not simply stopping activity, but true recovery. Where the common 休 covers any ordinary break or day off, 憩 goes further. It names the stillness that renews both body and spirit: the peaceful pause beside a quiet stream, a moment in a sunlit garden, or the breath drawn at a mountain rest stop along an ancient road.
Etymologically, 憩 is a phono-semantic compound. Its lower component 心 (こころ, heart and mind) grounds the meaning in inner restoration. The upper portion evokes breath and the self — picture breathing gradually slowing until body and mind go completely still. Together, the components say: real rest comes when the heart quiets and the breath finally settles into calm.
Written with 16 strokes, 憩 belongs to the radical 心 (heart). It carries no elementary school grade assignment and sits on the official Jōyō kanji list as a general-use character. JLPT places it at N1. In everyday life, you will most often spot it in the compound 休憩, which appears on signs at train stations, highway rest stops, cafés, and workplaces across Japan.
Readings
On'yomi (音読み) — Chinese-derived readings
The on'yomi reading for 憩 is ケイ (KEI), derived from historical Chinese pronunciation. It appears almost exclusively in formal compound words — yet it is also the reading you encounter most in daily life. The most common word containing this kanji, 休憩, uses the on'yomi for both characters, and that sign is posted everywhere.
- 休憩 (kyūkei) — rest, break, recess; the most widely used compound, seen on signs at rest areas, schools, offices, and travel facilities throughout Japan
- 休憩室 (kyūkeishitsu) — break room, staff lounge; a dedicated room for resting, especially in workplaces and public facilities
- 休憩所 (kyūkeijo) — rest area, rest stop; facilities along highways, hiking trails, and tourist routes where travelers can pause and recover
- 小憩 (shōkei) — a brief rest, a short break; a literary and formal term used in essays and travel writing to describe pausing momentarily
- 永憩 (eikei) — eternal rest; a dignified poetic expression used as a literary euphemism for peaceful death or perpetual peace
Kun'yomi (訓読み) — Native Japanese readings
The kun'yomi readings are いこ.い (ikoi) and いこ.う (ikou) — native Japanese words that predate the adoption of the Chinese character. Ikoi is the noun form, meaning "rest" or "repose"; ikou is the godan verb meaning "to rest" or "to relax." Both carry a gentle, unhurried quality and surface frequently in literary texts, place names, and poetic descriptions of peaceful scenery. They feel warmer and more intimate than the formal on'yomi compounds.
- 憩い (ikoi) — rest, repose; a literary noun, often seen in the phrase kokoro no ikoi (rest for the heart)
- 憩う (ikou) — to rest, to relax; used in literary and semi-formal contexts, often describing resting in a pleasant natural or peaceful setting
- 憩いの場 (ikoi no ba) — a place of rest, a relaxation spot; commonly used in descriptions of parks, gardens, and community spaces
- 憩いの空間 (ikoi no kūkan) — relaxation space; frequently used in real estate listings, interior design, and architectural contexts
Common Words & Compounds
The kanji 憩 appears in a range of compound words and set expressions, all centered on rest, recovery, and peaceful respite. The compounds are grouped below by category for easier study.
Everyday Break and Rest Expressions
- 休憩 (kyūkei) — rest, break, recess; the most common word with 憩 and the one you will see posted everywhere in Japan
- 休憩時間 (kyūkei jikan) — break time, rest period; the officially designated time for resting, as in a lunch break or mid-session recess
- 休憩所 (kyūkeijo) — rest area, rest stop; the facility where travelers, hikers, or visitors pause during a journey
- 休憩室 (kyūkeishitsu) — break room, staff lounge; a room set aside for resting, common in offices, hospitals, and public buildings
Noun and Verb Forms
- 憩い (ikoi) — rest, repose; a literary and refined noun for the act or state of resting peacefully
- 憩う (ikou) — to rest, to relax; used to describe resting in a pleasant or restorative environment
Set Phrases and Expressions
- 憩いの場 (ikoi no ba) — place of relaxation; used for parks, gardens, community centers, and cafés where people unwind
- 憩いの空間 (ikoi no kūkan) — relaxation space; popular in design and hospitality contexts
- 憩いのひととき (ikoi no hitotoki) — a moment of relaxation; a set phrase for a brief but precious pause
Literary and Formal Expressions
- 小憩 (shōkei) — a brief rest; used in essays, travel writing, and formal speech to mean taking a short, restorative pause
- 永憩 (eikei) — eternal rest; a dignified literary expression used in formal eulogy and classical writing
Example Sentences
私たちは長い会議の後、休憩を取った。
Watashitachi wa nagai kaigi no ato, kyūkei wo totta.
We took a break after the long meeting.
この公園はいつも人々の憩いの場となっている。
Kono kōen wa itsumo hitobito no ikoi no ba to natte iru.
This park has always been a place of relaxation for people.
仕事の合間に少し憩うことが大切だ。
Shigoto no aima ni sukoshi ikou koto ga taisetsu da.
It is important to take a short rest between tasks at work.
この図書館には静かな憩いの空間があります。
Kono toshokan ni wa shizuka na ikoi no kūkan ga arimasu.
This library has a quiet relaxation space.
選手たちはハーフタイムに休憩を取り、体力を回復させた。
Senshu-tachi wa hāfutaimu ni kyūkei wo tori, tairyoku wo kaifuku saseta.
The athletes rested during halftime and recovered their physical strength.
彼女は縁側に座り、庭を眺めながら憩っていた。
Kanojo wa engawa ni suwari, niwa wo nagame nagara ikotte ita.
She sat on the veranda, resting while gazing out at the garden.
疲れたときは自然の中で憩うのが一番です。
Tsukareta toki wa shizen no naka de ikou no ga ichiban desu.
When you are tired, resting in nature is the best remedy.
社員食堂の隣に新しい休憩室が設けられました。
Shain shokudō no tonari ni atarashii kyūkeishitsu ga mōkeraremashita.
A new break room has been set up next to the company cafeteria.
旅の途中で温泉宿に立ち寄り、しばらく憩うことにした。
Tabi no tochū de onsen yado ni tachiyori, shibaraku ikou koto ni shita.
During our journey, we stopped at a hot spring inn and decided to rest there for a while.
子どもたちは木陰で憩いながら弁当を食べた。
Kodomotachi wa kokage de ikoi nagara bentō wo tabeta.
The children ate their lunch while resting in the shade of the trees.
Memory Tip
Picture a weary traveler who drops their heavy pack and rests both hands over their heart — that settling stillness is the essence of 憩. The lower component 心 (heart) sits at the literal center of the character. It marks a rest that runs deeper than tired legs; body, mind, and spirit all go quiet together. For the on'yomi ケイ (KEI), imagine a key that unlocks the door to a quiet break room — you need your KEI to get inside. For the kun'yomi いこい (ikoi), try the phrase "I'm cozy, I'm okay" — a loose echo of the sound, and exactly the feeling it describes. Next time you pass a 休憩 sign at a rest stop or café, look at it as a pair: 休 shows a person leaning against a tree. 憩 shows what happens inside — the heart finally grows still.