Japanese word

眠気

Pronunciation

Romajinemuke

Meaning

  • noundrowsiness

Example

会議中に眠気を感じます。kai gi chū ni nemu ke o kan ji ma su

I feel drowsy during the meeting.

Illustration for 眠気 (drowsiness)

More examples

昼食後は急に眠気が強くなります。chū shoku go wa kyū ni nemu ke ga tsuyo ku na ri ma su

I suddenly become very drowsy after lunch.

Core concept

Describes a state in which alertness fades and sleep begins to feel close.

Common phrases

  • 眠気を感じるnemu ke o kan ji ru

    feel drowsy

  • 強い眠気tsuyo i nemu ke

    severe drowsiness

  • 眠気を覚ますnemu ke o sa ma su

    shake off drowsiness

Similar words

睡魔suima: A strong urge to sleep that seems difficult to resist.

Definition in Japanese

眠りに入りそうな状態や、眠りたいと感じる状態。nemu ri ni hai ri sō na jō tai ya nemu ri ta i to kan ji ru jō tai

Word origin

The native Japanese noun 眠気 (nemuke) combines the stem of 眠る (nemuru, "to sleep") with 気 (ke, "state or feeling"), forming a noun for a sleep-related state.

Usage tips

  • In English, drowsiness often describes reduced alertness, while sleepiness more directly suggests a desire or tendency to sleep.

Opposites

Word lists with this word