Japanese word

眠る

Pronunciation

Romajinemuru

Meaning

  • verbsleep

Example

毎晩十一時に眠ります。mai ban jū ichi ji ni nemu ri ma su

I sleep at eleven every night.

Illustration for 眠る (sleep)

More examples

弟は今、眠っています。otōto wa ima nemu tte i ma su

My little brother is sleeping now.

昼休みに少し眠ります。hiru yasu mi ni suko shi nemu ri ma su

I take a short nap during my lunch break.

Core concept

Describes entering or remaining in a state where awareness and bodily activity are temporarily reduced for rest.

Common phrases

  • よく眠るyo ku nemu ru

    sleep well

  • ぐっすり眠るgu ssu ri nemu ru

    sleep soundly

  • 深く眠るfuka ku nemu ru

    sleep deeply

Similar words

寝るneru: To be asleep or go into a state of sleep in everyday situations.

Definition in Japanese

目を閉じ、意識や身体の活動が一時的に休んだ状態になる。me o to ji i shiki ya shin tai no katsu dō ga ichi ji teki ni yasu n da jō tai ni na ru

Word origin

The native Japanese verb 眠る (nemuru, "to sleep") is closely related in form and meaning to 眠り (nemuri, "sleep"), the noun for sleeping or its state.

Usage tips

  • In everyday Japanese, 眠る (nemuru) is often more literary or formal than 寝る (neru), but it remains natural in neutral descriptions of sleeping.

Other meanings

  • go to sleepverb
  • be asleepverb

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word