What is the difference between "やすむ" and "休む"?

"やすむ" means "to rest, to be absent from work/school" (N5), whereas "休む" represents "to rest, to be absent" (N4).

Kanji Homophone Battle

Pronunciation Trap: "やすむ (yasumu)"

Same sound, completely different Kanji! Choose the right conceptual writing.

Kanji Option A

やすむ (yasumu)

N5 / CEFR

Kanji Option B

やすむ (yasumu)

N4 / CEFR

In Japanese, many words share the exact same pronunciation "やすむ (yasumu)" but are written with different Kanji, changing the meaning entirely.

やすむ (Level: N5): Translates to "to rest, to be absent from work/school" and is used when Can mean 'to take a break/rest' or 'to be absent from work/school'..
休む (Level: N4): Maps to "to rest, to be absent" and carries the nuance of Can mean to take a break.

Mixing these up can easily result in unnatural writing. Look at the bilingual context cards below to master the conceptual boundaries!

Bilingual Context for "やすむ"

今日は会社を休みます。

I will be absent from work today.

Bilingual Context for "休む"

今日は疲れたので、早く休みたいです。

I'm tired today, so I want to rest early.

Which Kanji perfectly fits this blank space?

Which Kanji perfectly fits the blank: "今日は会社を休みます。" (Meaning: "I will be absent from work today.")

🎉 Correct Answer!

Correct! "やすむ" is used for "to rest, to be absent from work/school" in the context: "I will be absent from work today.".