Meaning
For Japanese learners, 眠 is a crucial N3 kanji. It signifies "sleep," "sleepy," or "dormant." You'll frequently encounter this character, whether discussing your own fatigue after a long day or the hibernation of animals.
This kanji is a 会意文字 (kaii moji), or a compound ideograph, formed by two visual components. The left side features 目, the kanji for "eye." The right side, 艮, suggests "stopping," "limit," or "root." Combine an "eye" (目) with a component signifying "stopping" or "its limit" (艮), and you get an eye that has ceased movement, closed, or reached the extent of its wakefulness – in short, an eye that is sleeping. This beautifully illustrates the concept.
The kanji 眠 consists of 10 strokes. It is a Jōyō Kanji, meaning it belongs to the common-use kanji list taught in Japanese schools. Students typically learn this character in junior high school (Grade 8).
Readings
On'yomi (音読み) — Chinese-derived readings
The On'yomi, or Chinese-derived reading, for 眠 is ミン (MIN). You'll typically find this reading in compound words, forming more formal or technical terms related to sleep.
- 睡眠 (suimin) — This is the most common noun for "sleep." It's frequently used when discussing sleep habits or scientific aspects of sleep. For example, 「良質な睡眠が必要です。」 (Ryōshitsu na suimin ga hitsuyō desu.) - "Quality sleep is necessary."
- 仮眠 (kamin) — This term refers to a "nap" or a "short sleep," useful for a quick rest during the day. 「昼休みに仮眠を取る。」 (Hiruyasumi ni kamin o toru.) - "To take a nap during lunch break."
- 冬眠 (tōmin) — Meaning "hibernation," this compound describes animals entering a dormant state for the winter. 「熊は冬に冬眠する。」 (Kuma wa fuyu ni tōmin suru.) - "Bears hibernate in winter."
Kun'yomi (訓読み) — Native Japanese readings
The Kun'yomi, or native Japanese readings, of 眠 are crucial for describing the direct actions and states of sleeping or feeling sleepy. These readings frequently appear with 送り仮名 (okurigana), the trailing hiragana characters.
ねむ.る (nemuru) — This intransitive verb means "to sleep" or "to go to sleep," describing the act itself.
眠る (nemuru) — to sleep. 「毎日８時間眠る。」 (Mainichi hachi-jikan nemuru.) - "I sleep eight hours every day."
眠っている (nemutte iru) — is sleeping. This is the common continuous form. 「彼はまだ眠っている。」 (Kare wa mada nemutte iru.) - "He is still sleeping."
深く眠る (fukaku nemuru) — to sleep deeply. 「彼女は深く眠っていた。」 (Kanojo wa fukaku nemutte ita.) - "She was sleeping deeply."
ねむ.い (nemui) — This is an い-adjective meaning "sleepy" or "drowsy." It describes the state of feeling tired and wishing to sleep.
眠い (nemui) — sleepy. 「今日はとても眠いです。」 (Kyō wa totemo nemui desu.) - "I'm very sleepy today."
眠くなる (nemuku naru) — to become sleepy. 「授業中に眠くなる。」 (Jugyō-chū ni nemuku naru.) - "To get sleepy during class."
眠け (nemuke) — drowsiness (noun form). 「眠けを覚ます。」 (Nemuke o samasu.) - "To wake up from drowsiness."
Common Words & Compounds
This section covers more words and compounds that use 眠. This kanji appears in various contexts related to rest, dormancy, and even figurative expressions.
General Sleep & Rest:
睡眠 (suimin) — sleep (noun). 「彼は睡眠を十分に取った。」 (Kare wa suimin o jūbun ni totta.) - "He got enough sleep."
安眠 (anmin) — peaceful sleep, restful sleep. 「安眠を妨げる。」 (Anmin o samatageru.) - "To disturb peaceful sleep."
仮眠 (kamin) — a nap, a short sleep. 「仕事中に仮眠を取る。」 (Shigoto-chū ni kamin o toru.) - "To take a nap during work."
不眠 (fumin) — sleeplessness, insomnia. Often seen in 不眠症 (fuminshō) meaning "insomnia."
睡眠不足 (suimin busoku) — sleep deprivation, lack of sleep. 「睡眠不足で頭が痛い。」 (Suimin busoku de atama ga itai.) - "I have a headache from lack of sleep."
眠りこむ (nemuri komu) — to fall fast asleep, to be in a deep sleep. 「彼はソファで眠りこんでいた。」 (Kare wa sofa de nemuri konde ita.) - "He was fast asleep on the sofa."
Dormancy & Figurative Uses:
冬眠 (tōmin) — hibernation. 「動物は冬眠する。」 (Dōbutsu wa tōmin suru.) - "Animals hibernate."
休眠 (kyūmin) — dormancy, inactivation, lying idle. This can apply to volcanoes, businesses, or projects. 「休眠口座 (kyūmin kōza) - "dormant account."
永眠 (eimin) — eternal sleep, death. A more polite or poetic way to refer to death. 「彼は昨年永眠しました。」 (Kare wa sakunen eimin shimashita.) - "He passed away last year."
眠らせる (nemuraseru) — to put to sleep (transitive verb). This could be literally putting a child to sleep, or figuratively letting something lie dormant. 「宝物を地下に眠らせる。」 (Takaramono o chika ni nemuraseru.) - "To let treasure lie dormant underground."
Example Sentences
私はもうとても眠いです。
Watashi wa mō totemo nemui desu.
I am already very sleepy.
猫がソファで眠っています。
Neko ga sofa de nemutte imasu.
The cat is sleeping on the sofa.
十分な睡眠が健康に大切です。
Jūbun na suimin ga kenkō ni taisetsu desu.
Enough sleep is important for health.
今日は少し眠いので、仮眠を取りたいです。
Kyō wa sukoshi nemui node, kamin o toritai desu.
I'm a little sleepy today, so I want to take a nap.
熊は冬の間冬眠します。
Kuma wa fuyu no aida tōmin shimasu.
Bears hibernate during the winter.
赤ちゃんは静かにベッドで眠っています。
Akachan wa shizuka ni beddo de nemutte imasu.
The baby is sleeping quietly in bed.
良い安眠のために、寝る前にリラックスしましょう。
Yoi anmin no tame ni, neru mae ni rirakkusu shimashō.
Let's relax before bed for a good, peaceful sleep.
時差ボケで、不眠に悩んでいます。
Jisa boke de, fumin ni nayande imasu.
I'm suffering from sleeplessness due to jet lag.
彼は疲れていて、どこでもすぐに眠れるようです。
Kare wa tsukarete ite, doko demo sugu ni nemureru yō desu.
He seems to be so tired that he can sleep anywhere immediately.
試験前の睡眠不足は、体によくありません。
Shiken mae no suimin busoku wa, karada ni yoku arimasen.
Sleep deprivation before an exam is not good for your health.
Memory Tip
To remember 眠, visualize its components. The left part, eye (目), becomes so tired it simply wants to stop (艮) moving and close. When your eye stops, you fall asleep. You can picture an eye that has reached its limit and needs to rest. Alternatively, consider 艮 as a "root" or "limit." Your eyes (目) are rooted to your bed, limiting movement and allowing you to sleep. An eye that has stopped moving and is firmly rooted in rest—that is 眠.