Sabbatical（英语：Sabbatical，来自拉丁语的sabbaticus、希腊语的sabbatikos和希伯来语的shabbat，原意为停止）这个词被海归带入中国，指休假研究。很多大学提供教员Sabbatical使他们有时间来从事研究或作教学再训练，其它领域也有相似的例子，比如竞技体育中的李世石。

Sabbatical or a sabbatical (from Latin: sabbaticus, from Greek: sabbatikos (σαββατικός), from Hebrew: shabbat (שבת) (i.e., Sabbath), literally a "ceasing") is a rest from work, or a break, often lasting from two months to a year. The concept of sabbatical has a source in shmita, described in several places in the Bible. For example, in Leviticus 25, there is a commandment to desist from working the fields during the seventh year. Strictly speaking, this means a sabbatical would last one year.