jau1 gaa3休假
Jyutpingjau1 gaa3
Yaleyāu ga
Definition
To take a leave of absence or go on a holiday, usually for personal reasons.
neutralworktime
How it's used
While 放假 is the most common way to say take a break or have a holiday, 休假 sounds slightly more formal or professional. It is frequently used in workplace contexts when requesting time off from a supervisor. Unlike 放假, which can refer to public holidays or school breaks, 休假 specifically implies an individual's personal leave.
Examples
He is taking leave next week to go traveling.
When are you taking your leave?
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often use 休假 interchangeably with 放假 in casual settings, but it can sound a bit stiff or bureaucratic if used with close friends. Stick to 放假 for general conversations about weekends or public holidays.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
