Japanese word

寝返り

Pronunciation

Romajinegaeri

夜中に何度も寝返りを打ちました。yo naka ni nan do mo ne gae ri o u chi ma shi ta

I turned over in bed many times during the night.

肩が痛くて、寝返りを打つのも大変です。kata ga ita ku te ne gae ri o u tsu no mo tai hen de su

My shoulder hurts, so even turning over in bed is difficult.

The Japanese noun 寝返り (negaeri) refers to turning the body over in bed without necessarily implying discomfort or restlessness.

睡眠中に体を横向きなどに動かして向きを変える動作。sui min chū ni karada o yoko mu ki na do ni ugo ka shi te mu ki o ka e ru dō sa

寝返り (negaeri) is formed from 寝 (ne, "sleep") and 返り (gaeri, "turning back"), so its structure means turning back while asleep.

The phrase 寝返りを打つ (negaeri o utsu) uses 打つ (utsu) idiomatically, so it describes a change of position rather than hitting anything.