1.
a break, a rest
A short rest or pause, especially one involving tea or a smoke. The word originally referred to one serving of medicine or tea, and has come to broadly mean taking a short breather.
ちょっと一服しよう。
Let's take a quick break.
仕事の合間にお茶で一服した。
I took a tea break between work tasks.
疲れたので、カフェに入って一服することにした。
I was tired, so I decided to pop into a cafe and take a break.
2.
a dose (of medicine or tea)
One serving or dose, used as a counter for powdered medicine, tea, or tobacco.
薬を一服飲む。
Take one dose of medicine.
抹茶を一服いただいた。
I had a serving of matcha.
茶道の先生が丁寧に一服点ててくださった。
The tea ceremony teacher carefully prepared a bowl of tea for me.
一服 originally meant "one dose" or "one serving" (of tea, tobacco, or medicine), and the "break" meaning developed from the act of pausing to drink tea or smoke.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 一服する (take a break)
- お茶で一服 (a tea break)
- 一服の清涼剤 (a breath of fresh air, a welcome relief — figurative)
- 薬を一服 (one dose of medicine)
- 抹茶を一服 (a bowl of matcha)
USAGE NOTES:
- In modern usage, sense 1 ("take a break") is far more common than sense 2
- Can imply a smoking break, especially among older speakers
- 一服盛る is an old expression meaning "to slip poison (into a drink)"