Meaning
The kanji 寝 (neru) primarily means 'to sleep', 'to lie down', and 'to go to bed'. This versatile character is essential for expressing rest and the act of lying down. As a Jōyō kanji, you'll frequently encounter it in daily Japanese life, forming the basis for numerous expressions related to sleep, bedrooms, and positions of rest.
Its etymology offers a fascinating glimpse into its visual representation. This kanji is an ideogram, cleverly composed of several elements. The top component, 宀 (うかんむり), represents a 'roof' or 'house', setting the scene for an indoor activity. Historically, the left-hand radical, 爿 (しょうへん), depicted a 'bed' or a splinter of wood used to construct a bed frame. The bottom-right element, which evolved from forms like 𠬜 or a variation of 欠 (あくび, yawn), historically represented a 'person' or 'yawning.' This component hints at the state of sleepiness or the act of falling asleep. Putting these elements together, the kanji visually suggests a person (bottom right) lying on a bed (爿) inside a house or under a roof (宀). This vividly illustrates the act of sleeping or resting indoors.
This visual connection makes its meaning of 'sleep' or 'lie down' quite intuitive. The kanji has a stroke count of 13 and is classified as a Jōyō kanji, part of the officially recognized set of characters for general use. It is typically learned around the JLPT N3 level, making it crucial for intermediate Japanese learners to master.
Readings
The kanji 寝 has distinct readings stemming from its Chinese and native Japanese heritage, each used in different contexts.
On'yomi (音読み) — Chinese-derived readings
The On'yomi, or Chinese-derived reading, for 寝 is primarily シン (shin). This reading is often used in more formal or technical terms, especially in compound words with other kanji. It often suggests formal sleeping arrangements or the act of going to bed.
- 就寝 (shūshin) — going to bed, retiring for the night. You'll often hear this compound in formal announcements or when discussing sleep schedules, for instance, a hotel might announce its 就寝時間 (shūshin jikan - bedtime).
- 寝室 (shinshitsu) — bedroom. This is the standard term for a room designed for sleeping, emphasizing its function within a house. For example, '私の家には寝室が3つあります' (Watashi no ie ni wa shinshitsu ga mittsu arimasu - My house has three bedrooms).
- 寝台 (shindai) — bed, berth. While ベッド (bed) is the common term, 寝台 often refers to more formal or specific types, such as a 病院の寝台 (byōin no shindai - hospital bed) or a 寝台列車 (shindai ressha - sleeper train).
Kun'yomi (訓読み) — Native Japanese readings
The Kun'yomi, or native Japanese readings, are generally more common in everyday speech and verb conjugations. The primary Kun'yomi are ねる (neru) and ね (ne).
- 寝る (neru) — to sleep, to lie down, to go to bed. This is the most fundamental and frequently used verb form, applicable to both people and animals. For example, '夜10時に寝ます' (Yoru jūji ni nemasu - I go to bed at 10 PM).
- 寝坊 (nebō) — oversleeping, a late riser. Here, 寝 combines with 坊 (boy/monk, often with a nuance of being a 'person'), describing someone who sleeps in late. For instance, '彼はいつも寝坊だ' (Kare wa itsumo nebō da - He is always a late riser).
- 寝顔 (negao) — sleeping face. This refers to how someone looks while asleep, often implying a peaceful or innocent expression. For example, '彼女の寝顔は天使のようだ' (Kanojo no negao wa tenshi no yō da - Her sleeping face is like an angel's).
- 寝 (ne) — (used as a noun or in compounds) sleep, the act of sleeping. This reading is commonly found in phrases or shorter compounds like 寝つき (netsuki) or 寝心地 (negokochi - comfort of sleeping).
- 寝つき (netsuki) — falling asleep, ability to fall asleep. This term describes how easily or quickly someone can fall asleep. For example, '寝つきが悪い' (netsuki ga warui - having trouble falling asleep).
- 寝起き (neoki) — waking up, getting up from sleep. It refers to the state of just having woken up or the act of getting out of bed. For instance, '寝起きが悪くて困る' (neoki ga warukute komaru - I have trouble waking up in the morning).
Common Words & Compounds
The kanji 寝 appears in numerous compounds, all essential for discussing sleep, rest, and related activities. Here are some key examples, categorized for easier learning:
Verbs & Actions
- 寝る (neru) — to sleep, to lie down. This is the fundamental verb, crucial for daily conversation.
- 寝かす (nekasu) — to put to bed, to lay down (transitive). For example, 子供を寝かす (kodomo o nekasu - to put a child to bed) or 瓶を寝かす (bin o nekasu - to lay a bottle on its side).
- 寝付く (netsuku) — to fall asleep. This describes the action of successfully drifting off to sleep. For instance, 'なかなか寝付けない' (nakanaka netsukenai - I can't fall asleep easily).
- 寝過ごす (nesugosu) — to oversleep, or to miss one's stop while sleeping. This is commonly used when someone misses an alarm or sleeps past their destination on public transport. For example, '電車で寝過ごした' (densha de nesugoshita - I overslept on the train and missed my stop).
People & States
- 寝坊 (nebō) — oversleeping, a late riser. This term is often used informally to describe someone who likes to sleep in. E.g., '彼はすごい寝坊だ' (Kare wa sugoi nebō da - He's a really heavy sleeper/late riser).
- 寝たきり (netakiri) — bedridden. This refers to a person who is unable to leave their bed due to illness or infirmity. You might hear '寝たきりの老人' (netakiri no rōjin - bedridden elderly person).
- 寝顔 (negao) — sleeping face. This describes how a person looks when asleep. As in, '子供の寝顔を見る' (kodomo no negao o miru - to watch a child's sleeping face).
Places & Objects
- 寝室 (shinshitsu) — bedroom. This is the most common term for a room where one sleeps. E.g., '主寝室' (shushinshitsu - master bedroom).
- 寝台 (shindai) — bed, berth (more formal or specific types of beds). This term is often seen in contexts like '寝台車' (shindaisha - sleeper car) or '介護用寝台' (kaigoyō shindai - nursing care bed).
- 寝袋 (nebukuro) — sleeping bag. Essential gear for camping or outdoor activities. For instance, '冬用寝袋' (fuyuyō nebukuro - winter sleeping bag).
Related Concepts
- 就寝 (shūshin) — going to bed, retiring. This is a more formal way to say 'to go to sleep.' For example, '就寝前に歯を磨く' (shūshin mae ni ha o migaku - brush teeth before going to bed).
- 寝起き (neoki) — waking up, getting up from sleep. This term describes the transition from sleep to wakefulness. You might describe someone as having '寝起きの悪い人' (neoki no warui hito - someone who is grumpy when they wake up).
- 寝入りばな (neiribana) — just falling asleep. This refers to the moment one is drifting into sleep. It's often when a person is most vulnerable, as in '寝入りばなを襲う' (neiribana o osou - to attack someone just as they are falling asleep, figuratively or literally).
Example Sentences
今日は疲れたので、早く寝たいです。
Kyō wa tsukareta node, hayaku netai desu.
I'm tired today, so I want to go to bed early.
寝室は静かで、とても快適です。
Shinshitsu wa shizuka de, totemo kaiteki desu.
The bedroom is quiet and very comfortable.
赤ちゃんはすやすやと寝ています。
Akachan wa suyasuyato nete imasu.
The baby is sleeping soundly.
朝、寝坊してしまって、会議に遅れました。
Asa, nebō shite shimatte, kaigi ni okuremashita.
I overslept this morning and was late for the meeting.
彼はいつも寝顔が穏やかだ。
Kare wa itsumo negao ga odayaka da.
His sleeping face is always peaceful.
昨夜はなかなか寝付けませんでした。
Sakuya wa nakanaka netsukemasen deshita.
Last night, I had trouble falling asleep.
キャンプに行くために、新しい寝袋を買いました。
Kyanpu ni iku tame ni, atarashii nebukuro o kaimashita.
I bought a new sleeping bag to go camping.
週末はいつも遅くまで寝ていますが、平日は早起きです。
Shūmatsu wa itsumo osoku made nete imasu ga, heijitsu wa hayaoki desu.
On weekends, I always sleep late, but on weekdays I wake up early.
病気の祖母は、ほとんど一日中寝たきりの状態です。
Byōki no sobo wa, hotondo ichinichijū netakiri no jōtai desu.
My sick grandmother is almost bedridden all day long.
フライトの前に空港の寝台で少し休んだ。
Furaito no mae ni kūkō no shindai de sukoshi yasunda.
I rested a bit on a bed at the airport before my flight.
Memory Tip
To remember 寝, visualize its components by imagining a story: a person (implied by the right-side element, which originated from 'person' or 'yawn') is comfortably lying on a ベッド (bed, represented by 爿 on the left) inside a いえ (house, represented by 宀, the roof radical on top). Imagine this person letting out a big あくび (yawn), signifying tiredness and readiness to 寝る (sleep). The roof provides shelter, the bed offers comfort, and the yawn signals the transition to sleep. This simple scene perfectly encapsulates the kanji's meaning: sleeping or lying down in a domestic setting.