暇 (xiá) - Leisure & free time

暇Tone 2

xiá ｜ 13 strokes ｜ radical:

万响

暇 · xiá

Leisure;

free time;

unoccupied moments;

spare time from work or duties.

Leisurefree timeunoccupied moments

Usage highlights

No leisureLeisure timeSpare momentsBusy without leisureLeisure and comfortTo have leisure

Synonyms

  • 闲— idle; leisure
  • 空— empty; free time
  • 逸— ease; leisure

Antonyms

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • I have no leisure to read (无暇读书).
  • He is busy and has no spare time (他忙得无暇顾及).
  • During a moment of leisure, we chatted (闲暇时我们聊了天).
  • Please reply at your convenience (请暇时回复).

Collocations

  • No leisure(无暇)
  • Leisure time(暇时)
  • Spare moments(暇隙)
  • Busy without leisure(不暇)
  • Leisure and comfort(暇逸)
  • To have leisure(有暇)

Idioms

  • Too numerous to deal with(应接不暇)
  • Too busy to attend to all(日不暇给)
  • Seizing a moment of leisure(偷闲躲静)
  • Not even having time for food and sleep(食不暇饱, 寝不遑安)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In traditional Chinese culture, 'leisure' (暇) was valued as a state necessary for scholarly reflection, artistic creation, and personal cultivation.
  • The concept contrasts with constant labor, reflecting a Confucian and Daoist ideal of balanced life between work (忙) and rest (暇).
  • In modern usage, it often appears in negative constructions (e.g., 无暇) to express being extremely busy.

FAQ