Japanese verb · u-verb · first needed at elementary level (A2)

休む

yasumu

to rest, to take time off

(yasumu) covers resting, taking a day off and being absent: (kaisha o yasumu), to take time off work. (oyasumi nasai), good night, comes from it.

Speed:

Present

現在形

Now, habits and the future. The plain form is for friends and family; polite ～ます is the default.

過去形

What happened, or what has happened. The plain form is for friends and family; polite ～ました is the default.

plain	休んだyasunda
polite	休みましたyasumimashita
plain negative	休まなかったyasumanakatta
polite negative	休みませんでしたyasumimasen deshita

て形

Joins actions and builds requests. (yasunde imasu) means “is resting” or “is off today”; (yasunde mo ii desu ka) asks for time off.

te-form	休んでyasunde
-te imasu (doing now)	休んでいますyasunde imasu
-te kudasai (please do)	休んでくださいyasunde kudasai
-te mo ii desu ka (may I)	休んでもいいですかyasunde mo ii desu ka

意向形

Let's: the plain form between friends, ～ましょう in polite speech. ～ましょうか suggests (shall we?) or offers help (shall I?).

可能形

Can rest or take time off: (ashita wa yasumemasu ka), can you take tomorrow off?

使役形

Letting someone rest or take time off: (yasumasete kudasai) means “please let me rest” or “please let me take the day off”.

条件形

If: ～ば for general conditions, ～たら for “if” and “when, once”, ～なければ for “if not”.