How to Say ‘To take a day off / to be absent’ in Japanese
休みます
yasumi masu
[yah-soo-mee mahs]
💬 Usage Tip: In school and work contexts, [休みます] often means "be absent" or "take the day off," not just "rest." So [学校を休みます] is "be absent from school," and [会社を休みます] is "take the day off work."
Phrase Breakdown
休み
yasumi
[yah-soo-mee]
rest; be absent (stem)
From 休む (“to rest; to be absent”). Used for taking a day off from school/work.
きょうは学校を休みます。
I will miss school today.
ます
masu
[mahs]
polite verb ending (-masu)
Makes the verb polite: 休みます (“will be absent / will take off”). Appropriate for calls to school.
きょうは休みます。
I will be absent today.
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