Holiday meanings in Japanese

休暇 (きゅうか)

Example:

I took a holiday to relax.

リラックスするために休暇を取りました。

She is on holiday this week.

彼女は今週休暇中です。

Usage: formal/informalContext: Used to refer to time off work or school for rest or travel.

Note: This term is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts in Japan.

祝日 (しゅくじつ)

Example:

New Year's Day is a public holiday in Japan.

元日は日本の祝日です。

We celebrate many holidays throughout the year.

私たちは一年を通して多くの祝日を祝います。

Usage: formalContext: Refers to designated public holidays as recognized by the government.

Note: This term refers specifically to national holidays and is used in formal contexts.

ホリデー

Example:

We are planning a holiday to Hawaii.

ハワイへのホリデーを計画しています。

I love going on holidays with my family.

家族とホリデーに行くのが大好きです。

Usage: informalContext: Used in casual conversations, often borrowed from English.

Note: This is a loanword from English and is often used in informal settings to refer to vacations or trips.

休み (やすみ)

Example:

I need a break from work for a holiday.

仕事から休みが必要です。

Can we take a holiday next month?

来月休みを取れますか？

Usage: informalContext: Refers to any time off from work or school, can refer to short breaks as well.

Note: This term can also refer to time off that is not necessarily related to a holiday.

vacation

A vacation is a period of time spent away from home or work for leisure or recreation.

Example: I'm going on vacation to Hawaii next week.

Note: Vacation is commonly used in American English, while holiday is more common in British English.

break

A break is a short period of time during which you stop what you are doing to rest or relax.

Example: I need a break from work, so I'm taking a few days off.

Note: Break can refer to a short period of time off work, while holiday often implies a longer period of time off for leisure.

getaway

A getaway is a short vacation or trip, usually taken to escape from everyday life.

Example: We're planning a romantic getaway to the mountains.

Note: Getaway emphasizes the idea of escaping or getting away from daily routines or stress.

trip

A trip is a journey or excursion, especially for pleasure.

Example: We're going on a road trip across the country this summer.

Note: Trip is a more general term that can refer to any journey, while holiday specifically implies a period of leisure.

On holiday

This phrase means being on vacation or taking time off from work or school.

Example: I'll be on holiday next week, so I won't be in the office.

Note: The phrase 'on holiday' specifically refers to being on a break or vacation, while 'holiday' alone can refer to any day of celebration or special observance.

Holiday spirit

This phrase refers to the feelings of joy, goodwill, and excitement typically associated with holidays and festive seasons.

Example: The decorations and music really put me in the holiday spirit.

Note: While 'holiday' can simply refer to a day of celebration, 'holiday spirit' encompasses the emotions and atmosphere of the holiday season.

Holiday destination

A holiday destination is the place where someone goes for a vacation or holiday.

Example: We're still deciding on our holiday destination for this summer.

Note: Using 'holiday destination' specifies the purpose of the trip as being for leisure, whereas 'holiday' alone can refer to the break itself.

Public holiday

A public holiday is a day that is recognized by the government as a day of rest, often observed by the general population.

Example: Most businesses are closed on public holidays like Christmas and New Year's Day.

Note: This phrase specifically refers to days recognized by the government as holidays, whereas 'holiday' alone can refer to any type of break or celebration.

Bank holiday

A bank holiday is a public holiday when banks and many other businesses are closed for the day.

Example: We have a bank holiday on Monday, so the banks will be closed.

Note: Similar to 'public holiday,' 'bank holiday' refers to specific holidays recognized by the government and often involves the closure of banks and businesses.

Holiday season

The period around traditional holidays, typically starting from late November with Thanksgiving and extending through New Year's Day.

Example: The holiday season is a busy time for retailers as people shop for gifts.

Note: While 'holiday' alone can refer to a specific day of celebration, 'holiday season' encompasses the time period around multiple holidays and the associated festivities.

Holidaymaker

A person who is on holiday or vacation, especially someone who is traveling for leisure.

Example: The resort is popular among holidaymakers looking for a relaxing getaway.

Note: Using 'holidaymaker' specifically refers to an individual who is on a vacation or holiday, distinguishing them from those who may not be taking a break.

Staycation

A staycation involves staying at home or nearby for rest and relaxation rather than going on a traditional vacation.

Example: Instead of traveling abroad, we're having a staycation this year.

Note: Staycation emphasizes relaxation at home, distinguishing it from physically traveling during a holiday.

Road trip

A road trip involves traveling by road over long distances, often with multiple stops for sightseeing or exploration.

Example: We're going on a road trip to visit all the national parks in the state.

Note: While a road trip can be a vacation, it specifically focuses on the journey itself rather than the destination.

Vacay

Vacay is a shortened, informal term for vacation, often used to refer to a trip away from home for relaxation or leisure.

Example: I'm looking forward to our tropical vacay next month.

Note: Vacay is a more casual and trendy way to refer to a holiday or vacation.

R&R

R&R stands for rest and relaxation, indicating a period of time spent unwinding and rejuvenating.

Example: After a hectic week, I need some R&R this weekend.

Note: R&R encompasses a broader sense of relaxation beyond the concept of a traditional holiday or vacation.

Jaunt

A jaunt refers to a short journey or excursion, often taken for enjoyment or to break routine.

Example: Let's go on a jaunt to the countryside for a change of scenery.

Note: A jaunt is typically a brief and spontaneous trip, contrasting with a planned or longer holiday.

Staycay

Staycay is a playful and abbreviated form of staycation, used to describe staying at home for relaxation and leisure.

Example: We can have a relaxing staycay at home this summer.

Note: Staycay conveys a more casual and informal tone compared to the formal notion of a staycation.

I'm going on holiday next week.

Christmas is my favorite holiday.

I need to take some time off work for a holiday.

Holiday - Noun (Noun) / Noun, singular or mass (Noun, singular or mass)

Lemma: holiday

Conjugations

Noun, plural (Noun, plural): holidays

Noun, singular or mass (Noun, singular or mass): holiday

Verb, past tense (Verb, past tense): holidayed

Verb, gerund or present participle (Verb, gerund or present participle): holidaying

Verb, 3rd person singular present (Verb, 3rd person singular present): holidays

Verb, base form (Verb, base form): holiday

Verb, non-3rd person singular present (Verb, non-3rd person singular present): holiday

Syllabification and Stress

holiday Contains 3 syllables: hol • i • day

Phonetic transcription: ˈhä-lə-ˌdā

hol i day , ˈhä lə ˌdā (The red syllable is stressed)

The word frequency and importance index indicates how often a word appears in a given language. The smaller the number, the more frequently the word is used. The most frequently used words typically range from about 1 to 4000.

holiday: 1000 - 1100 (Very common).

This importance index helps you focus on the most useful words during your language learning process.

Holiday