Japanese word

寝付く

Pronunciation

Romajinetsuku

Meaning

  • verbfall asleep

Example

昨夜はなかなか寝付きませんでした。saku ya wa na ka na ka ne tsu ki ma se n de shi ta

I had trouble falling asleep last night.

Illustration for 寝付く (fall asleep)

More examples

部屋が明るいと、なかなか寝付きません。heya ga aka ru i to na ka na ka ne tsu ki ma se n

I have trouble falling asleep when the room is bright.

Core concept

Describes the transition from being awake to being settled in sleep.

Common phrases

  • なかなか寝付かないna ka na ka ne tsu ka na i

    have trouble falling asleep

  • やっと寝付くya tto ne tsu ku

    finally fall asleep

  • 安心して寝付くan shin shi te ne tsu ku

    fall asleep peacefully

Similar words

寝入るneiru: To enter sleep after a period of being awake.
眠るnemuru: To be in a state of sleep rather than wakefulness.

Definition in Japanese

眠りに入る。nemu ri ni hai ru

Word origin

The verb 寝付く (netsuku) combines 寝る (neru, "sleep") and 付く (tsuku, "become attached"), expressing the state of settling into sleep.

Usage tips

  • 寝付く (netsuku) usually focuses on the moment or process of falling asleep, whereas 眠る (nemuru) more often describes the state of being asleep.

Opposites

Related words

  • 寝付きnetsukiease of falling asleepnoun

Word lists with this word