Japanese word

不眠

Pronunciation

Romajifumin

Meaning

  • nouninsomnia

Example

ここ数日、不眠に悩んでいます。ko ko sū jitsu fu min ni naya n de i ma su

I have been suffering from insomnia for the past few days.

Illustration for 不眠 (insomnia)

More examples

生活習慣の乱れが不眠の原因になることがあります。sei katsu shū kan no mida re ga fu min no gen in ni na ru ko to ga a ri ma su

Disrupted lifestyle habits can sometimes cause insomnia.

Core concept

Refers to a state in which sleep is difficult or insufficient.

Common phrases

  • 不眠に悩むfu min ni naya mu

    suffer from insomnia

  • 不眠を訴えるfu min o utta e ru

    complain of insomnia

  • 不眠が続くfu min ga tsuzu ku

    insomnia persists

Similar words

不眠症fuminshō: A sleep disorder marked by persistent difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep.
寝不足nebusoku: A condition of not getting enough sleep, whether from poor sleep or too little time in bed.

Definition in Japanese

眠りにつけなかったり、眠りが浅かったりして、十分に眠れない状態。nemu ri ni tsu ke na ka tta ri nemu ri ga asa ka tta ri shi te jū bun ni nemu re na i jō tai

Word origin

The Sino-Japanese word 不眠 (fumin) combines 不 (fu, "not") and 眠 (min, "sleep"), describing sleep that does not occur normally.

Usage tips

  • In everyday conversation, speakers more often say 眠れない (nemurenai, "cannot sleep") than 不眠 (fumin), which has a more formal or medical tone.

Opposites

  • 安眠anminsound sleepnoun
  • 快眠kaiminrestful sleepnoun

Related words

  • 不眠症fuminshōinsomnia disordernoun

Word lists with this word