A valve system for an engine including a valve resting mechanism provided between an engine valve and a valve lifter supported by a cylinder head. The valve resting mechanism can place the engine valve into a resting state. The valve resting mechanism has a pin holder which includes a sliding hole having an axis perpendicular to the axis of a valve lifter, and an insertion hole for allowing a valve stem to pass therethrough. The pin holder is slidably fitted in the valve lifter. A slide pin is slidably fitted in the sliding hole, with a hydraulic force and a spring force applied to both ends of the slide pin. A containing hole is coaxially connectable to the insertion hole, and a rotation stopping means for stopping axial rotation of the slide pin is provided between the pin holder and the slide pin.