休闲 (xiūxián) — leisure, recreation
HSK 4 | n/adj | free time activities; relaxed and casual
休闲 (xiūxián)
休闲 describes leisure time and recreational activities, as well as a casual, relaxed style or atmosphere. It is used both as a noun and as an adjective modifying clothing, venues, and lifestyles.
Meanings
- n leisure, recreation, free time
- adj casual, leisure (as in clothing style)
Example Sentences
周末我喜欢做一些休闲活动，比如看电影。 Zhōumò wǒ xǐhuān zuò yīxiē xiūxián huódòng, bǐrú kàn diànyǐng. On weekends I like to do leisure activities, such as watching movies.
他穿着休闲服装去参加聚会。 Tā chuānzhe xiūxián fúzhuāng qù cānjiā jùhuì. He wore casual clothing to attend the gathering.
这个城市有很多休闲娱乐场所。 Zhège chéngshì yǒu hěn duō xiūxián yúlè chǎngsuǒ. This city has many leisure and entertainment venues.
现代人越来越重视休闲时间的质量。 Xiàndài rén yuèlái yuè zhòngshì xiūxián shíjiān de zhìliàng. Modern people increasingly value the quality of their leisure time.
Collocations
| Collocation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 休闲活动 (xiūxián huódòng) | leisure activities |
| 休闲服装 (xiūxián fúzhuāng) | casual clothing |
| 休闲时间 (xiūxián shíjiān) | free time, leisure time |
| 休闲娱乐 (xiūxián yúlè) | leisure and entertainment |
Usage Notes
休闲 combines 休 (rest) and 闲 (idle/free). As an adjective before clothing it means "casual" rather than "formal." It is often paired with 娱乐 to form the compound 休闲娱乐, referring to the leisure and entertainment industry.
Memory Hook
休 shows a person (人) leaning against a tree (木) — resting freely (闲) is the perfect picture of leisure.