How to Say ‘To let (someone) be absent; to make (someone) rest’ in Japanese
休ませる
yasuma seru
[yah-soo-mah seh-roo]
💬 Usage Tip: Causative form: [休む] → [休ませる]. It means “let someone rest / keep someone home.”
🇯🇵 In Japan: Parents often use [休ませます] when calling the school because the parent is making the decision for the child (especially in elementary school).
Phrase Breakdown
休ま
yasuma
[yah-soo-mah]
to let someone rest; to have someone be absent
Causative form of 「休む」. Used by parents: “to keep my child home / let my child take the day off.”
明日、子どもを休ませる予定です。
Tomorrow, I plan to keep my child home.
せる
seru
[seh-roo]
(causative ending) make/let (someone) do
Part of the causative pattern: verb stem + 「せる」. With 「休ま」 it becomes 「休ませる」.
明日、子どもを休ませる予定です。
Tomorrow, I plan to keep my child home.
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