Japanese word

寝坊

Pronunciation

Romajinebō

Meaning

  • nounoversleeping

Example

今日は寝坊しました。kyō wa ne bō shi ma shi ta

I overslept today.

Illustration for 寝坊 (oversleeping)

More examples

休日でも、寝坊しないように早く寝ます。kyū jitsu de mo ne bō shi na i yō ni haya ku ne ma su

Even on my days off, I go to bed early so that I do not oversleep.

Core concept

Describes sleeping past the time one planned or needed to wake up and getting up late.

Common phrases

  • 寝坊するne bō su ru

    oversleep

  • 寝坊の理由ne bō no ri yū

    reason for oversleeping

Similar words

朝寝坊asanebō: Sleeping late in the morning, often later than usual or planned.
寝過ぎnesugi: Sleeping for longer than needed or intended, whether or not it causes a late start.

Definition in Japanese

予定した起床時刻を過ぎても眠り続け、遅い時刻に起きること。yo tei shi ta ki shō ji koku o su gi te mo nemu ri tsuzu ke oso i ji koku ni o ki ru ko to

Word origin

The native compound combines 寝 (ne, "sleeping") with 坊 (bō, "person or boy"), a noun element used for a person with a particular trait.

Usage tips

  • The noun often combines with する (suru) in everyday speech, forming a verb phrase used when someone wakes later than planned.

Opposites

Related words

  • 寝坊癖nebōkusehabit of oversleepingnoun
  • 寝坊助nebōsukehabitual oversleepernoun

Word lists with this word