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A2 noun #1,500 가장 일반적인 11분 분량

睡眠

suimin 상위 1,500

연습하기 예시 노트와 팁 睡眠 30초 만에

설명 睡眠 in your Level:

At the A1 beginner level, you are just starting to learn how to talk about your daily routine. While you will mostly use the verb '寝る' (neru - to sleep) to say things like 'I go to sleep at 10 PM', it is very helpful to recognize the noun '睡眠' (suimin). You will see this word on health posters, in pharmacies, and on your smartphone's health app. At this stage, you do not need to use it in complex sentences. Simply understanding that '睡眠' means 'sleep' as a thing or concept is enough. The most important phrase to memorize right now is '睡眠時間' (suimin jikan), which means 'sleep time' or 'hours of sleep'. If someone asks you '睡眠時間は？' (Suimin jikan wa?), they are asking how many hours you sleep. You can answer simply with '８時間です' (Hachi jikan desu - 8 hours). Another good phrase to recognize is '睡眠をとる' (suimin o toru), which means 'to get sleep'. Even if you cannot build long sentences yet, spotting these characters will help you navigate daily life in Japan, especially when buying things like herbal tea or looking at smartwatch data. Remember, '睡眠' is a noun, so don't try to use it like an action verb. Just treat it as a vocabulary word for the concept of rest.

무료 가입하고 전체 설명 읽기

At the A2 level, you are expanding your ability to talk about your health, habits, and physical condition. This is where '睡眠' becomes an active part of your vocabulary. You should now be comfortable using the phrase '睡眠不足' (suimin busoku), which means 'lack of sleep'. This is an incredibly common phrase in Japan. If you are feeling tired and a friend asks what is wrong, you can say '睡眠不足です' (Suimin busoku desu - I am lacking sleep). You should also practice using the verb 'とる' (toru - to take) with '睡眠'. Instead of just saying 'たくさん寝ます' (Takusan nemasu - I sleep a lot), you can sound much more natural by saying 'たくさん睡眠をとります' (Takusan suimin o torimasu - I get a lot of sleep). You can also start describing the quality of your sleep using simple adjectives. For example, 'いい睡眠' (ii suimin - good sleep) or '十分な睡眠' (juubunna suimin - enough sleep). Being able to explain why you are tired or what you need to feel better is a key A2 skill, and mastering '睡眠' allows you to do exactly that in a clear, natural way that native speakers will instantly understand and appreciate.

At the B1 intermediate level, your conversations become more detailed, and you are expected to explain reasons, conditions, and advice. '睡眠' is essential for discussing lifestyle and wellness. You should be able to construct sentences that link sleep to other aspects of life. For example, you can say 'ストレスのせいで、睡眠が浅いです' (Sutoresu no sei de, suimin ga asai desu - Because of stress, my sleep is shallow). You will also encounter compound words more frequently. Words like '睡眠薬' (suiminyaku - sleeping pills) or '睡眠障害' (suimin shougai - sleep disorders) might appear in reading comprehension texts or listening exercises about health. At this level, you should understand the difference between '睡眠' (the objective state of sleep) and '眠り' (the subjective feeling of slumber). When giving advice to a friend who is working too hard, you can use conditional grammar: 'もっと睡眠をとらないと、病気になりますよ' (Motto suimin o toranai to, byouki ni narimasu yo - If you don't get more sleep, you will get sick). Using '睡眠' correctly in these contexts shows that you are moving beyond basic survival Japanese and starting to engage in meaningful, adult conversations about well-being.

무료 가입하고 전체 설명 읽기

At the B2 upper-intermediate level, you are dealing with more abstract and professional topics. '睡眠' will frequently appear in news articles, opinion pieces, and business contexts. You need to be comfortable discussing the societal impacts of sleep. For instance, you might read an article about '睡眠負債' (suimin fusai - sleep debt) and how it affects the Japanese economy due to decreased productivity. You should be able to express complex ideas such as '良質な睡眠は仕事の効率を上げるために不可欠です' (Ryoushitsu na suimin wa shigoto no kouritsu o ageru tame ni fukaketsu desu - High-quality sleep is essential for increasing work efficiency). You will also need to understand passive and causative structures related to sleep, such as being forced to cut down on sleep: '残業で睡眠時間を削らされる' (Zangyou de suimin jikan o kezurasareru - Being forced to cut down on sleep time due to overtime). At this stage, your vocabulary should include advanced collocations like '睡眠を妨げる' (suimin o samatageru - to interfere with sleep) or '睡眠を促す' (suimin o unagasu - to promote sleep). Mastery at the B2 level means you can confidently read a health magazine or watch a documentary about sleep science and understand the core arguments and specific terminology used.

무료 가입하고 전체 설명 읽기

At the C1 advanced level, your command of '睡眠' must be precise and versatile, allowing you to participate in academic, medical, or high-level corporate discussions. You are expected to understand and use highly specialized terminology and idiomatic expressions naturally. You might discuss the physiological stages of sleep, such as 'レム睡眠' (remu suimin - REM sleep) and 'ノンレム睡眠' (non-remu suimin - non-REM sleep), and how they relate to cognitive function and memory consolidation. In a sociological context, you should be able to debate the cultural attitudes toward sleep in Japan, contrasting the historical acceptance of '居眠り' (inemuri - sleeping on the job/in public) with modern corporate wellness initiatives. Your sentence structures will be complex, utilizing advanced grammar points. For example: '現代社会において、慢性的な睡眠不足がもたらす健康被害は看過できない問題となっている' (Gendai shakai ni oite, manseiteki na suimin busoku ga motarasu kenkou higai wa kanka dekinai mondai to natte iru - In modern society, the health damage caused by chronic sleep deprivation has become a problem that cannot be overlooked). You should also be sensitive to the register, knowing exactly when to use '睡眠' over its synonyms to maintain an authoritative, objective tone in your writing and speaking.

무료 가입하고 전체 설명 읽기

At the C2 mastery level, your understanding of '睡眠' is indistinguishable from that of a highly educated native speaker. You can effortlessly navigate literary, scientific, and philosophical texts where sleep is discussed both literally and metaphorically. You understand the etymological roots of the kanji '睡' and '眠' and how they influence the word's nuance. You can critique academic papers on somnology (睡眠学 - suimingaku) or analyze the metaphorical use of sleep in classical Japanese literature, contrasting the clinical '睡眠' with the poetic '微睡み' (madoromi - slumber/doze). You are capable of employing rhetorical devices and highly sophisticated phrasing, such as '睡眠という生理的欲求の剥奪は、人間の精神を根底から蝕む' (Suimin to iu seiriteki yokkyuu no hakudatsu wa, ningen no seishin o kontei kara mushibamu - The deprivation of the physiological need called sleep undermines the human spirit from its very foundation). At this level, you not only use the word flawlessly but also understand its deep cultural resonance in a society that constantly balances the virtue of relentless effort with the biological imperative of rest, allowing you to write persuasive essays or deliver compelling presentations on the subject.

무료 가입하고 전체 설명 읽기

연습하기 예시 노트와 팁

睡眠 30초 만에

Formal noun for 'sleep'.
Must be paired with verbs like とる (toru).
Commonly used in health and medical contexts.
Distinct from the verb 寝る (neru - to go to bed).

The Japanese word '睡眠' (suimin) is a formal, objective noun that translates directly to 'sleep' in English. Unlike the verb '寝る' (neru), which generally means 'to lie down' or 'to go to bed', '睡眠' specifically refers to the biological and physiological state of resting the mind and body. Understanding the distinction between these terms is absolutely crucial for learners of Japanese, as using the wrong term can make your speech sound unnatural or overly casual in formal situations. When discussing health, wellness, or medical conditions, native speakers and professionals will almost exclusively use 'suimin'. For example, if you visit a doctor because you are feeling fatigued, the doctor will ask about your 'suimin' habits, not just whether you 'neru'. This is because 'suimin' encompasses the quality, duration, and depth of your rest.

Physiological Context: Used when discussing the body's need for rest, brain wave patterns during rest, and overall physical recovery.

In everyday conversation, people use '睡眠' when they want to emphasize the concept of sleep as a measurable quantity or a vital component of health. You will frequently hear it in compound words like '睡眠不足' (suimin busoku), which means 'lack of sleep', or '睡眠時間' (suimin jikan), meaning 'hours of sleep'.

最近、睡眠が足りていない。(Lately, I haven't been getting enough sleep.)

The kanji characters that make up '睡眠' provide fascinating insight into its meaning. The first character, '睡' (sui), means 'drowsy' or 'sleep'. It is composed of the radical for 'eye' (目) and a phonetic component that suggests drooping or hanging down, perfectly illustrating the physical sensation of heavy eyelids. The second character, '眠' (min), also means 'sleep' or 'to close one's eyes'. Together, they create a highly specific, unambiguous term for the act of sleeping.

Medical Context: Employed in diagnoses, treatments, and clinical discussions regarding sleep disorders such as insomnia or sleep apnea.

健康のためには、十分な睡眠が必要です。(Sufficient sleep is necessary for health.)

Furthermore, '睡眠' is often used in news reports, scientific articles, and public health campaigns. Japan has a well-documented culture of overwork, and public service announcements frequently remind citizens to prioritize their 'suimin' to avoid burnout and serious health issues.

良質な睡眠は免疫力を高めます。(Good quality sleep boosts the immune system.)

In written Japanese, you will encounter '睡眠' in books about self-improvement, productivity, and wellness. It is a keyword in modern lifestyle discussions.

Productivity Context: Used when analyzing how rest impacts work efficiency, focus, and cognitive performance in professional environments.

彼は睡眠薬を飲んで寝た。(He took a sleeping pill and went to sleep.)

深い睡眠をとることが大切です。(It is important to get deep sleep.)

To master this word, learners should practice associating it with the concept of 'rest as a resource' rather than just the action of closing one's eyes at night. It is a foundational vocabulary word for anyone looking to achieve fluency and participate in adult, nuanced conversations in Japanese.

Using '睡眠' correctly in sentences requires an understanding of its grammatical properties and common collocations. As a noun, it cannot be conjugated like a verb. Instead, it must be paired with specific verbs to convey action. The most common and essential verb pairing is 'とる' (toru), which means 'to take'. Therefore, 'to get sleep' or 'to sleep' (in the sense of acquiring rest) is expressed as '睡眠をとる' (suimin o toru). This phrase is used universally in both spoken and written Japanese when discussing the acquisition of rest.

Action Pairing: Use '睡眠をとる' (suimin o toru) to express the act of getting or taking sleep for recovery purposes.

毎日８時間の睡眠をとるようにしています。(I try to get 8 hours of sleep every day.)

Another highly frequent usage involves the suffix '不足' (busoku), meaning 'insufficiency' or 'lack'. When combined, it forms '睡眠不足' (suimin busoku), a single compound noun meaning 'lack of sleep' or 'sleep deprivation'. This is arguably one of the most commonly used phrases involving this word in modern Japanese society, given the fast-paced lifestyle of many workers and students.

最近、ずっと睡眠不足です。(I have been lacking sleep lately.)

You will also frequently see '睡眠' paired with '時間' (jikan - time) to form '睡眠時間' (suimin jikan), meaning 'hours of sleep' or 'sleep duration'. This is used when quantifying how much rest someone has had.

Quantification: Combine with '時間' (jikan) to discuss the length or duration of sleep.

あなたの平均睡眠時間はどれくらいですか？(What is your average sleep time?)

When discussing the quality of sleep, adjectives like '深い' (fukai - deep), '浅い' (asai - shallow), and '十分な' (juubunna - sufficient) are commonly placed before '睡眠'. For example, '深い睡眠' (fukai suimin) refers to deep, restorative sleep, while '浅い睡眠' (asai suimin) refers to light, easily interrupted sleep.

Quality Description: Use adjectives like 深い (deep) or 浅い (shallow) to describe the quality of the rest.

ストレスのせいで、睡眠が浅くなっています。(Because of stress, my sleep has become shallow.)

試験のために睡眠を削って勉強した。(I cut down on my sleep to study for the exam.)

By mastering these specific sentence patterns and collocations, learners can express a wide range of nuances regarding their sleeping habits, health, and daily routines with native-like accuracy and natural flow.

The word '睡眠' is ubiquitous in Japanese society, reflecting the culture's complex relationship with rest, work, and health. You will hear and see this word in a wide variety of contexts, ranging from casual complaints among friends to formal medical diagnoses. One of the most common places you will encounter '睡眠' is in the workplace or at school. Japanese work culture has historically been demanding, and it is not uncommon for colleagues to discuss their fatigue. In these settings, phrases like '睡眠不足' (suimin busoku - lack of sleep) are used almost as a badge of honor or a standard greeting to express how hard one is working.

Workplace Conversations: Colleagues frequently discuss their lack of rest as a way to bond over shared corporate struggles and heavy workloads.

昨日も残業で、完全に睡眠不足だよ。(I worked overtime again yesterday, I'm completely sleep-deprived.)

You will also hear this word extensively in healthcare and medical settings. When you visit a clinic, doctors and nurses will ask about your '睡眠' to gauge your overall health. They might ask if you are experiencing '睡眠障害' (suimin shougai - sleep disorders) or if you need '睡眠薬' (suiminyaku - sleeping pills).

医師に睡眠の質を改善するように言われました。(The doctor told me to improve the quality of my sleep.)

Media and Advertising: Television commercials frequently advertise mattresses, pillows, and supplements designed to improve rest quality.

In recent years, there has been a massive boom in the 'sleep economy' in Japan. Television commercials, train advertisements, and magazine articles constantly feature the word '睡眠'. Companies advertise high-tech mattresses, specialized pillows, and relaxation drinks all promising to provide '良質な睡眠' (ryoushitsu na suimin - good quality sleep).

このマットレスは快適な睡眠を約束します。(This mattress promises comfortable sleep.)

日本人は睡眠時間が短い傾向にあります。(Japanese people tend to have short sleep durations.)

Technology and Apps: Smartwatches and smartphone applications use this term in their tracking dashboards and health reports.

アプリで毎日の睡眠を記録しています。(I record my daily sleep using an app.)

Whether you are watching a documentary about health, buying a new bed, or just chatting with a friend about why they look tired, '睡眠' is the standard, go-to vocabulary word that anchors all these conversations.

When learning the word '睡眠', English speakers often make a few predictable mistakes, primarily stemming from the differences between how English and Japanese handle nouns and verbs related to resting. The most frequent error is attempting to use '睡眠' as a standalone verb. In English, 'sleep' can be both a noun ('I need sleep') and a verb ('I sleep well'). In Japanese, '睡眠' is strictly a noun. You cannot say '私は睡眠する' (Watashi wa suimin suru) to mean 'I sleep'. While technically understandable, it sounds incredibly robotic and unnatural, akin to saying 'I execute the function of slumber'.

Verb Confusion: Never use '睡眠する' (suimin suru) as a verb for going to bed. Use '寝る' (neru) instead.

❌ 昨日は早く睡眠しました。
⭕ 昨日は早く寝ました。(I went to sleep early yesterday.)

Another common mistake is using '睡眠' when wishing someone a good night. In English, we might say 'Sleep well!' A direct translation attempt might lead a learner to say '良い睡眠を！' (Yoi suimin o!). While this is grammatically correct and might be used in a very formal or commercial context (like a hotel advertisement), it is extremely unnatural to say to a friend or family member before bed.

❌ じゃあね、良い睡眠を！
⭕ じゃあね、おやすみ！(See you, good night!)

Collocation Errors: Using the wrong verb to mean 'getting sleep'. Learners often use 'する' (suru) instead of the correct 'とる' (toru).

Learners also struggle with the correct verb to pair with '睡眠' when they want to express 'getting sleep'. Many try to use '持つ' (motsu - to have) or '得る' (eru - to get), resulting in awkward phrases like '睡眠を持つ'. The only natural verb to use in this context is 'とる' (toru - to take).

❌ もっと睡眠を持たなければならない。
⭕ もっと睡眠をとらなければならない。(I must get more sleep.)

Pronunciation Pitfalls: Failing to pronounce the long vowel sound correctly, saying 'sumin' instead of 'suimin'.

Finally, a minor but noticeable pronunciation mistake is rushing the vowels. The word is 'すいみん' (su-i-mi-n). English speakers sometimes blend the 'u' and 'i' too quickly, making it sound like 'sumin', which can cause momentary confusion.

正しい発音は「す・い・み・ん」です。(The correct pronunciation is su-i-mi-n.)

❌ スミン不足
⭕ 睡眠不足 (suimin busoku)

By being aware of these common pitfalls, especially the strict noun status of the word and its required pairing with 'とる', learners can dramatically improve the naturalness of their Japanese.

The Japanese language has a rich vocabulary related to resting, and '睡眠' is just one of several words you can use. Understanding the nuances between these synonyms is key to achieving fluency. The most direct alternative to '睡眠' is the noun '眠り' (nemuri). While both translate to 'sleep', '眠り' has a softer, more poetic, and subjective nuance. It focuses on the sensation or the state of slumber rather than the biological necessity. For example, you might read about '深い眠り' (fukai nemuri - a deep slumber) in a novel, whereas a medical text would use '深い睡眠' (fukai suimin).

眠り (Nemuri): A softer, more literary term for sleep or slumber. Focuses on the experience rather than the medical state.

彼は永遠の眠りについた。(He fell into an eternal slumber.) *Here, 睡眠 would be inappropriate.

Another related term is '就寝' (shuushin), which specifically means 'going to bed' or 'retiring for the night'. It emphasizes the action of getting into bed rather than the state of being asleep. You will often see this on schedules, itineraries, or in institutional settings like dormitories or hospitals (e.g., 就寝時間 - shuushin jikan - bedtime).

就寝 (Shuushin): Formal term for the act of going to bed. Often used for scheduling.

就寝前にスマホを見ない方がいい。(It's better not to look at your smartphone before going to bed.)

For short periods of rest, Japanese has specific words. '仮眠' (kamin) means a 'nap' or 'short sleep', often taken out of necessity during work or study. '昼寝' (hirune) specifically means a 'nap taken during the daytime' or a 'siesta'.

疲れたので、少し仮眠をとります。(I'm tired, so I'll take a short nap.)

仮眠 (Kamin) vs 昼寝 (Hirune): Kamin is a strategic short sleep (often at work/night), while Hirune is a casual daytime nap.

昨日は疲れていて、朝まで爆睡した。(I was so tired yesterday that I slept like a log until morning.)

静かな環境で熟睡できました。(I was able to sleep soundly in the quiet environment.)

By choosing the correct alternative, you can precisely convey not just that someone is resting, but the quality, timing, and context of that rest.

How Formal Is It?

재미있는 사실

The right side of '睡' is '垂', which means 'to hang down' or 'droop'. So '睡' literally depicts your eyelids drooping when you are tired! The right side of '眠' is '民' (people), but historically it represented an eye that is blinded or dark, symbolizing the darkness of sleep.

발음 가이드

UK /sɯ.i.mi.ɴ/

US /sɯ.i.mi.ɴ/

Heiban (Flat pitch: L-H-H-H)

라임이 맞는 단어

市民 (shimin) 移民 (imin) 区民 (kumin) 都民 (tomin) 難民 (nanmin) 県民 (kenmin) 農民 (noumin) 庶民 (shomin)

자주 하는 실수

Pronouncing it as 'sumin' by dropping the 'i'.
Pronouncing it like the English word 'swimming'.
Putting a heavy stress accent on the first syllable.
Failing to pronounce the final 'n' as a full mora.
Using a 'nakadaka' pitch accent (dropping the pitch at the end).

난이도

독해 4/5

The kanji 睡 and 眠 are both taught in junior high school. They look somewhat complex due to the multiple strokes and the shared 'eye' radical.

쓰기 5/5

Writing 睡 from memory can be tricky for learners due to the right-side component 垂.

말하기 2/5

Pronunciation is straightforward, just remember to elongate the vowels correctly (su-i-mi-n).

듣기 2/5

Easily recognizable in context, especially when paired with common words like busoku or jikan.

다음에 무엇을 배울까

선수 학습

寝る (neru - to sleep) 起きる (okiru - to wake up) 時間 (jikan - time) 体 (karada - body) 疲れる (tsukareru - to be tired)

다음에 배울 것

不足 (busoku - lack/shortage) 質 (shitsu - quality) 健康 (kenkou - health) 障害 (shougai - disorder/obstacle) 削る (kezuru - to shave/cut down)

고급

覚醒 (kakusei - awakening) 概日リズム (gaijitsu rizumu - circadian rhythm) メラトニン (meratonin - melatonin) 不眠症 (fuminshou - insomnia) 睡眠時無呼吸症候群 (suiminji mukokyuu shoukougun - sleep apnea)

알아야 할 문법

Noun + をとる (o toru) - Collocation for acquiring a state or taking an action.

睡眠をとる (suimin o toru - to get sleep) / 休憩をとる (kyuukei o toru - to take a break)

Noun + 不足 (busoku) - Suffix meaning lack or insufficiency.

睡眠不足 (suimin busoku - lack of sleep) / 運動不足 (undou busoku - lack of exercise)

Noun + 時間 (jikan) - Suffix for duration of time.

睡眠時間 (suimin jikan - sleep time) / 勉強時間 (benkyou jikan - study time)

Adjective + 睡眠 (suimin) - Describing the quality of a noun.

深い睡眠 (fukai suimin - deep sleep) / 浅い睡眠 (asai suimin - shallow sleep)

Noun + の質 (no shitsu) - Expressing the quality of something.

睡眠の質 (suimin no shitsu - quality of sleep) / 生活の質 (seikatsu no shitsu - quality of life)

무료 가입하고 전체 설명 읽기

수준별 예문

私の睡眠時間は８時間です。

My sleep time is 8 hours.

Noun + 時間 (jikan) indicates duration.

睡眠は大切です。

Sleep is important.

Noun + は (wa) marks the topic.

毎日、睡眠をとります。

I get sleep every day.

を (o) marks the direct object for the verb とる (toru).

睡眠が好きです。

I like sleep.

Noun + が好き (ga suki) means 'like [noun]'.

いい睡眠ですね。

That is good sleep, isn't it.

Adjective + Noun modification.

睡眠アプリを使います。

I use a sleep app.

Compound noun: 睡眠 + アプリ.

睡眠が足りないです。

Sleep is not enough.

足りない (tarinai) is the negative form of 足りる (tariru - to be enough).

睡眠の時間は何時間ですか？

How many hours is your sleep time?

Question word 何時間 (nan jikan - how many hours).

最近、睡眠不足でとても疲れています。

Lately, I am very tired from lack of sleep.

で (de) indicates the cause or reason.

健康のために、もっと睡眠をとってください。

For your health, please get more sleep.

〜のために (no tame ni) means 'for the sake of'.

昨日は十分な睡眠がとれませんでした。

I couldn't get enough sleep yesterday.

とれませんでした is the negative potential form of とる.

睡眠時間が短いと、頭が痛くなります。

If sleep time is short, my head hurts.

と (to) is used as a conditional 'if/when'.

良い睡眠をとる方法を教えてください。

Please tell me how to get good sleep.

方法 (houhou) means 'method' or 'way'.

コーヒーを飲むと、睡眠が浅くなります。

When I drink coffee, my sleep becomes shallow.

Adjective + なります (narimasu) indicates a change in state.

睡眠は体と心を休めるために必要です。

Sleep is necessary to rest the body and mind.

休める (yasumeru) is a transitive verb meaning 'to rest something'.

週末はたくさん睡眠をとるつもりです。

I plan to get a lot of sleep on the weekend.

つもりです (tsumori desu) expresses an intention or plan.

ストレスが原因で、睡眠障害になる人が増えています。

The number of people getting sleep disorders due to stress is increasing.

〜が原因で (ga genin de) means 'caused by'.

睡眠薬を飲まないと眠れない日があります。

There are days when I cannot sleep unless I take sleeping pills.

〜ないと (nai to) means 'unless' or 'if not'.

質の高い睡眠をとるためには、寝る前のスマホを控えるべきです。

In order to get high-quality sleep, you should refrain from using your smartphone before bed.

べきです (beki desu) expresses a strong recommendation or obligation.

睡眠不足が続くと、仕事の集中力が低下します。

If lack of sleep continues, concentration at work decreases.

続くと (tsuzuku to) means 'if [it] continues'.

理想的な睡眠時間は人によって異なります。

The ideal sleep time differs depending on the person.

〜によって (ni yotte) means 'depending on'.

昼休みに15分ほどの仮眠をとると、午後の仕事がはかどります。

If you take a 15-minute nap during lunch break, afternoon work progresses well.

ほど (hodo) indicates approximation ('about').

適度な運動は、深い睡眠を促す効果があります。

Moderate exercise has the effect of promoting deep sleep.

促す (unagasu) means 'to promote' or 'to encourage'.

彼は睡眠時間を削ってまで、そのプロジェクトを完成させました。

He completed the project even to the point of cutting down on his sleep time.

〜てまで (te made) implies doing something extreme to achieve a goal.

現代社会において、睡眠負債は深刻な社会問題として認識されつつある。

In modern society, sleep debt is increasingly being recognized as a serious social problem.

〜つつある (tsutsu aru) indicates an ongoing, gradual change.

睡眠の質を客観的に評価するために、ウェアラブル端末を活用する人が増えた。

To objectively evaluate sleep quality, the number of people utilizing wearable devices has increased.

客観的に (kyakkanteki ni) means 'objectively'.

カフェインの摂取は、レム睡眠とノンレム睡眠のサイクルを乱す恐れがある。

Caffeine intake carries the risk of disrupting the cycle of REM and non-REM sleep.

〜恐れがある (osore ga aru) means 'there is a risk/fear that...'.

十分な睡眠が確保できない環境は、従業員のメンタルヘルスに悪影響を及ぼす。

An environment where sufficient sleep cannot be secured negatively impacts employees' mental health.

悪影響を及ぼす (akueikyou o oyobosu) means 'to exert a negative influence'.

睡眠時無呼吸症候群は、日中の強い眠気を引き起こす原因となる。

Sleep apnea syndrome becomes a cause that triggers strong daytime sleepiness.

引き起こす (hikiokosu) means 'to cause' or 'to trigger'.

規則正しい生活リズムを維持することが、良質な睡眠への第一歩だ。

Maintaining a regular life rhythm is the first step toward high-quality sleep.

維持する (iji suru) means 'to maintain'.

就寝前のブルーライトは、睡眠ホルモンであるメラトニンの分泌を抑制してしまう。

Blue light before bedtime suppresses the secretion of melatonin, the sleep hormone.

抑制する (yokusei suru) means 'to suppress' or 'to inhibit'.

長期間にわたる睡眠不足は、免疫力の低下を招き、感染症のリスクを高める。

Long-term sleep deprivation leads to a decline in immunity and raises the risk of infectious diseases.

〜にわたる (ni wataru) means 'spanning over' or 'extending over'.

慢性的な睡眠不足がもたらす経済的損失は、国家予算に匹敵するとも言われている。

It is said that the economic loss brought about by chronic sleep deprivation is comparable to the national budget.

匹敵する (hitteki suru) means 'to rival' or 'to be comparable to'.

睡眠という生理的欲求を軽視する企業風土は、早急に是正されるべき課題である。

A corporate culture that neglects the physiological need of sleep is an issue that should be urgently corrected.

軽視する (keishi suru) means 'to make light of' or 'to neglect'.

加齢に伴う睡眠構造の変化は、中途覚醒の増加という形で顕著に表れる。

Changes in sleep architecture accompanying aging manifest prominently in the form of increased mid-sleep awakenings.

〜に伴う (ni tomonau) means 'accompanying' or 'along with'.

最新の睡眠科学は、記憶の固定化における徐波睡眠の不可欠な役割を解明しつつある。

The latest sleep science is gradually elucidating the indispensable role of slow-wave sleep in memory consolidation.

不可欠な (fukaketsu na) means 'indispensable' or 'essential'.

過度なストレスは自律神経のバランスを崩し、結果として深刻な睡眠障害を誘発する。

Excessive stress disrupts the balance of the autonomic nervous system, consequently inducing severe sleep disorders.

誘発する (yuuhatsu suru) means 'to induce' or 'to trigger'.

シフト勤務制がもたらす概日リズムの乱れは、睡眠の質を著しく損なう要因となる。

The disruption of the circadian rhythm brought about by shift work becomes a factor that significantly impairs sleep quality.

著しく (ichijirushiku) means 'significantly' or 'markedly'.

睡眠薬の安易な処方は、依存症のリスクを孕んでいるため、慎重な判断が求められる。

The easy prescription of sleeping pills carries the risk of addiction, thus requiring careful judgment.

孕む (haramu) literally means 'to conceive', but metaphorically means 'to contain/carry (a risk)'.

個人の睡眠パターンは遺伝的要因に大きく依存しており、一律の基準を当てはめるのは危険だ。

Individual sleep patterns depend heavily on genetic factors, and applying a uniform standard is dangerous.

一律の (ichiritsu no) means 'uniform' or 'across the board'.

睡眠とは単なる覚醒の欠如ではなく、脳が自己修復を行うための極めて能動的なプロセスである。

Sleep is not merely the absence of wakefulness, but an extremely active process for the brain to perform self-repair.

単なる〜ではない (tannaru ~ de wa nai) means 'not merely...'.

近代資本主義社会は、睡眠という非生産的な時間をいかに搾取するかという命題と常に格闘してきた。

Modern capitalist society has constantly grappled with the proposition of how to exploit the unproductive time known as sleep.

搾取する (sakushu suru) means 'to exploit'.

文学において、睡眠はしばしば死のメタファーとして、あるいは現実からの逃避行として描出される。

In literature, sleep is often depicted as a metaphor for death, or as an escapade from reality.

描出される (byoushutsu sareru) means 'to be depicted' or 'portrayed'.

睡眠時随伴症の複雑なメカニズムは、意識と無意識の境界がいかに曖昧であるかを如実に物語っている。

The complex mechanisms of parasomnia vividly illustrate just how ambiguous the boundary between consciousness and unconsciousness is.

如実に物語る (nyojitsu ni monogataru) means 'to vividly illustrate/tell'.

人為的な光害がもたらす睡眠環境の悪化は、生態系全体のリズムをも狂わせる潜在的脅威である。

The deterioration of the sleep environment caused by artificial light pollution is a potential threat that disrupts the rhythm of the entire ecosystem.

狂わせる (kuruwaseru) means 'to throw out of order' or 'to disrupt'.

睡眠の剥奪は、最も古く、かつ最も残酷な拷問手法の一つとして歴史上幾度となく用いられてきた。

Sleep deprivation has been used countless times throughout history as one of the oldest and most cruel methods of torture.

幾度となく (ikudo to naku) means 'countless times'.

深遠なる睡眠の海に沈潜することで、我々は日中の煩悩から解放され、精神の浄化を遂げるのである。

By submerging into the profound ocean of sleep, we are liberated from daytime worldly desires and achieve spiritual purification.

沈潜する (chinsen suru) means 'to submerge' or 'to delve deeply'.

夢という現象は、睡眠中に脳内で繰り広げられる記憶の再構築作業の副産物に過ぎないとする説が有力だ。

The prevailing theory is that the phenomenon of dreams is merely a byproduct of the memory reconstruction work unfolding in the brain during sleep.

〜に過ぎない (ni suginai) means 'nothing more than' or 'merely'.

자주 쓰는 조합

睡眠をとる

睡眠不足

睡眠時間

睡眠薬

睡眠障害

深い睡眠

浅い睡眠

睡眠を削る

睡眠の質

睡眠負債

자주 쓰는 구문

睡眠が足りない

— Not having enough sleep. Used to express fatigue.

最近、睡眠が足りなくて辛い。(Lately, I'm suffering because I don't have enough sleep.)

良質な睡眠

— Good quality sleep. Often used in health advice.

良質な睡眠は健康の基本です。(Good quality sleep is the foundation of health.)

睡眠を妨げる

— To interfere with or disturb sleep. Used when something keeps you awake.

騒音が睡眠を妨げる。(The noise disturbs my sleep.)

睡眠を促す

— To promote or encourage sleep. Used for things that help you fall asleep.

温かいミルクは睡眠を促します。(Warm milk promotes sleep.)

睡眠学習

— Sleep learning. The concept of learning while asleep (often debated).

睡眠学習の効果は証明されていない。(The effectiveness of sleep learning is unproven.)

レム睡眠

— REM sleep. The stage of sleep where dreaming occurs.

レム睡眠中に夢を見ます。(We dream during REM sleep.)

ノンレム睡眠

— Non-REM sleep. Deep, restorative sleep.

ノンレム睡眠は脳を休ませます。(Non-REM sleep rests the brain.)

睡眠導入剤

— Sleep-inducing drug. A milder form of sleeping pill.

睡眠導入剤を飲んで寝る。(Take a sleep-inducing drug and go to bed.)

睡眠時無呼吸症候群

— Sleep apnea syndrome. A medical condition.

彼は睡眠時無呼吸症候群の疑いがある。(He is suspected of having sleep apnea syndrome.)

快適な睡眠

— Comfortable sleep. Used in advertising for bedding.

快適な睡眠をお届けします。(We deliver comfortable sleep.)

자주 혼동되는 단어

睡眠 vs 寝る (neru)

Learners often try to use '睡眠' as a verb ('睡眠する'). '寝る' is the verb 'to sleep/go to bed'. '睡眠' is the noun 'sleep'.

睡眠 vs 眠り (nemuri)

Both are nouns for sleep. '睡眠' is clinical and objective. '眠り' is poetic and subjective (e.g., 'a peaceful slumber').

睡眠 vs 就寝 (shuushin)

Both are formal. '就寝' means the specific act/time of going to bed. '睡眠' refers to the entire duration and state of being asleep.

관용어 및 표현

"泥のように眠る"

— To sleep like a log; to sleep dead to the world. Literally 'to sleep like mud'.

疲れ果てて、泥のように眠った。(I was exhausted and slept like a log.)

Idiomatic/Casual

"枕を高くして寝る"

— To sleep in peace without worries. Literally 'to sleep with a high pillow'.

事件が解決し、これで枕を高くして寝られる。(The case is solved, now I can sleep in peace.)

Idiomatic/Formal

"寝食を忘れる"

— To forget to sleep and eat; to be completely absorbed in something.

彼は寝食を忘れて研究に没頭した。(He immersed himself in his research, forgetting to sleep and eat.)

Idiomatic/Formal

"寝耳に水"

— A bolt from the blue; a complete surprise. Literally 'water in a sleeping ear'.

そのニュースはまさに寝耳に水だった。(That news was truly a bolt from the blue.)

Idiomatic

"果報は寝て待て"

— Good things come to those who wait. Literally 'sleep and wait for good fortune'.

焦っても仕方ない、果報は寝て待てだよ。(No use rushing, good things come to those who wait.)

Proverb

"春眠暁を覚えず"

— In spring one sleeps so soundly that one doesn't notice the dawn. From a famous Chinese poem.

春眠暁を覚えずで、今朝は寝坊してしまった。(As they say, 'in spring one sleeps past dawn', I overslept this morning.)

Poetic/Proverb

"寝る子は育つ"

— Children who sleep well grow well.

うちの赤ちゃんはよく寝る。寝る子は育つね。(Our baby sleeps a lot. Children who sleep well grow well.)

Proverb

"起きて働く果報者"

— To be healthy enough to wake up and work is a blessing.

文句を言わずに働きなさい、起きて働く果報者だよ。(Work without complaining, it's a blessing to be able to wake up and work.)

Proverb

"狸寝入り"

— Feigning sleep; playing possum. Literally 'raccoon dog sleep'.

都合が悪くなると、彼はすぐに狸寝入りをする。(When things get inconvenient, he immediately feigns sleep.)

Idiomatic/Casual

"添い寝"

— Sleeping alongside someone (usually a child) to comfort them.

子供が怖がるので添い寝をした。(The child was scared, so I slept beside them.)

Neutral

혼동하기 쉬운

睡眠 vs 冬眠 (toumin)

Shares the kanji '眠' and sounds similar.

'冬眠' specifically means 'hibernation' (winter sleep) for animals. You cannot use it for humans unless you are making a joke about sleeping all winter.

熊は冬眠します。(Bears hibernate.)

睡眠 vs 催眠 (saimin)

Shares the kanji '眠' and sounds similar.

'催眠' means 'hypnosis'. It is an induced state, not natural sleep. Used in words like '催眠術' (hypnotism).

催眠術にかかる。(To fall under hypnosis.)

睡眠 vs 仮眠 (kamin)

Shares the kanji '眠' and is a type of sleep.

'仮眠' is a short, temporary nap taken out of necessity, usually at work or while driving. '睡眠' is your main, restorative sleep.

車の中で仮眠をとる。(Take a nap in the car.)

睡眠 vs 唾液 (daeki)

Visual confusion. The kanji '唾' (saliva) looks very similar to '睡' (sleep).

Look at the right side. '睡' has '垂' (droop), while '唾' has a different component. They have completely different meanings.

唾液が出る。(Saliva comes out.)

睡眠 vs 睡魔 (suima)

Shares the kanji '睡'.

'睡魔' literally means 'the sleep demon' and translates to 'drowsiness' or 'sleepiness' that attacks you. You 'fight' suima, you 'take' suimin.

睡魔に襲われる。(To be attacked by drowsiness.)

문장 패턴

[Reason] で、睡眠不足です。

仕事が忙しくて、睡眠不足です。(I'm busy with work, so I'm lacking sleep.)

毎日 [Number] 時間の睡眠をとります。

毎日７時間の睡眠をとります。(I get 7 hours of sleep every day.)

睡眠が [Adjective: 浅い/深い] です。

最近、ストレスで睡眠が浅いです。(Lately, my sleep is shallow due to stress.)

睡眠の質を [Verb: 上げる/良くする] ために〜

睡眠の質を上げるために、運動しています。(I am exercising to raise the quality of my sleep.)

睡眠を削ってまで [Action] をする。

睡眠を削ってまでゲームをしてしまった。(I played games even to the point of cutting down on sleep.)

[Subject] は睡眠を妨げる。

寝る前のカフェインは睡眠を妨げる。(Caffeine before bed disturbs sleep.)

慢性的な睡眠不足は [Negative Consequence] を引き起こす。

慢性的な睡眠不足は重大な病気を引き起こす。(Chronic sleep deprivation causes serious illnesses.)

良質な睡眠は [Positive Outcome] に不可欠である。

良質な睡眠は疲労回復に不可欠である。(High-quality sleep is indispensable for fatigue recovery.)

어휘 가족

명사

睡眠不足 (suimin busoku - lack of sleep)

睡眠薬 (suiminyaku - sleeping pill)

睡眠時間 (suimin jikan - sleep time)

睡眠障害 (suimin shougai - sleep disorder)

사용법

frequency

Top 2000 most common words in Japanese. Extremely frequent in daily life, news, and medical contexts.

자주 하는 실수

私は毎日8時間睡眠します。 → 私は毎日8時間睡眠をとります。
Learners often treat '睡眠' as a suru-verb. It is strictly a noun. You must use the verb 'とる' (toru - to take) to express getting sleep.
お母さん、良い睡眠を！ → お母さん、おやすみなさい！
Translating 'Have a good sleep!' directly sounds clinical and unnatural in Japanese. For greetings, always use the standard 'おやすみなさい'.
もっと睡眠を持たなければならない。 → もっと睡眠をとらなければならない。
Directly translating 'to have sleep' leads to using the verb '持つ' (motsu). In Japanese, you 'take' sleep using 'とる' (toru).
スミン不足で疲れた。 → 睡眠不足（すいみんぶそく）で疲れた。
Pronunciation error. Dropping the 'i' makes it sound like 'sumin'. It must be pronounced with four distinct beats: su-i-mi-n.
授業中に睡眠してしまった。 → 授業中に居眠りしてしまった。
Vocabulary error. '睡眠' refers to proper, intentional rest in bed. Dozing off in class or on a train is called '居眠り' (inemuri).

팁

Always pair with とる

Treat '睡眠をとる' (suimin o toru) as a single vocabulary chunk. Memorizing it this way prevents the common mistake of trying to use 'する' (suru) or '持つ' (motsu).

Master the 'busoku' suffix

The suffix '不足' (busoku - lack) is incredibly useful. '睡眠不足' (suimin busoku) is one of the most common phrases you will hear in a Japanese office. Learn it early!

Objective vs. Subjective

Use '睡眠' when talking about sleep as a biological function, duration, or health metric. Use '眠り' (nemuri) when talking about the feeling or poetry of slumber.

Don't rush the vowels

Make sure to pronounce all four morae: su-i-mi-n. English speakers often blend 'su' and 'i' into a 'swi' sound. Keep them distinct.

A common conversation starter

Asking about someone's '睡眠時間' (suimin jikan - sleep time) is a normal, polite way to show concern for their health in Japan, especially if they look tired.

Watch the kanji radicals

Both kanji in '睡眠' share the '目' (eye) radical on the left. This is a great visual reminder that the word is related to closing your eyes.

Not for greetings

Never use '睡眠' to say goodnight to someone. Stick to 'おやすみなさい' (Oyasuminasai). '睡眠' is for discussing the topic of sleep, not for greetings.

Describe the quality

To sound fluent, use adjectives to describe sleep. '深い' (fukai - deep), '浅い' (asai - shallow), and '良質な' (ryoushitsu na - good quality) are the best choices.

Catching the numbers

When you hear 'suimin' in the news, get ready to listen for numbers. It is almost always followed by statistics about hours (時間) or percentages (パーセント).

Nebusoku vs Suimin busoku

'寝不足' (nebusoku) and '睡眠不足' (suimin busoku) mean the same thing. Use 'nebusoku' with friends, and 'suimin busoku' at work or in formal writing.

암기하기

기억법

Imagine you are SWIMMING (suimin) in a deep, relaxing pool of dreams to get your SLEEP.

시각적 연상

Visualize heavy eyelids drooping (the kanji 睡) into total darkness (the kanji 眠) while floating in a pool (swimming -> suimin).

Word Web

睡眠 (Sleep) -> 時間 (Time) -> 睡眠時間 (Sleep time) -> 不足 (Lack) -> 睡眠不足 (Lack of sleep) -> 薬 (Medicine) -> 睡眠薬 (Sleeping pill) -> 障害 (Disorder) -> 睡眠障害 (Sleep disorder) -> 深い (Deep) -> 深い睡眠 (Deep sleep) -> 浅い (Shallow) -> 浅い睡眠 (Shallow sleep) -> とる (Take) -> 睡眠をとる (Get sleep)

챌린지

Try tracking your sleep for three days. Each morning, write down '今日の睡眠時間は〇〇時間です' (Today's sleep time is XX hours) and note if it was '深い' (deep) or '浅い' (shallow).

어원

The word '睡眠' is composed of two kanji of Chinese origin (on'yomi). The first kanji, '睡' (sui), means 'drowsy' or 'sleep'. The second kanji, '眠' (min), also means 'sleep' or 'to close eyes'. Both characters share the '目' (eye) radical.

원래 의미: The literal combination means 'drooping eyes and closed eyes', describing the physical state of falling asleep.

Sino-Japanese vocabulary (Kango).

문화적 맥락

Be careful not to praise someone for looking tired or lacking sleep, as modern Japanese society is trying to move away from glorifying overwork.

In English cultures, sleep is often viewed as a basic right and a private matter. In Japan, sleep (or the lack thereof) is often a public indicator of one's work ethic.

The concept of 'Suimin Fusai' (Sleep Debt) which won a buzzword award in Japan in 2017. Books like 'The Stanford Method for Ultimate Sound Sleep' (スタンフォード式最高の睡眠) which became massive bestsellers in Japan. Capsule hotels, originally designed for salarymen who missed the last train because they were working or drinking, providing a minimal space just for 'suimin'.

실생활에서 연습하기

실제 사용 상황

At the Doctor's Clinic

睡眠はとれていますか？ (Are you getting sleep?)
睡眠が浅いです。(My sleep is shallow.)
睡眠薬を出します。(I will prescribe sleeping pills.)
睡眠障害の可能性があります。(There is a possibility of a sleep disorder.)

Complaining to Coworkers

睡眠不足で頭が回らない。(My brain isn't working due to lack of sleep.)
昨日も睡眠を削って仕事した。(I cut down on sleep to work yesterday too.)
睡眠時間が全然足りない。(My sleep time is completely insufficient.)
早く帰って睡眠をとりたい。(I want to go home early and get some sleep.)

Buying Bedding or Health Products

良質な睡眠をサポートします。(Supports high-quality sleep.)
深い睡眠に導く枕。(A pillow that leads to deep sleep.)
睡眠の質を向上させるサプリ。(A supplement that improves sleep quality.)
快適な睡眠環境。(A comfortable sleep environment.)

Using a Health App

今日の睡眠時間 (Today's sleep time)
睡眠の深さ (Depth of sleep)
レム睡眠の割合 (Percentage of REM sleep)
睡眠データを記録する (Record sleep data)

Reading Health Articles

睡眠負債を返済する (Pay back sleep debt)
理想的な睡眠時間 (Ideal sleep time)
睡眠と免疫力の関係 (The relationship between sleep and immunity)
睡眠の質を高める習慣 (Habits that raise the quality of sleep)

대화 시작하기

"最近、ちゃんと睡眠とれてる？疲れた顔してるよ。(Have you been getting enough sleep lately? You look tired.)"

"あなたの平均睡眠時間はどれくらいですか？私はいつも6時間くらいです。(What is your average sleep time? I'm usually around 6 hours.)"

"睡眠の質を上げるために、何か特別なことをしていますか？(Are you doing anything special to improve the quality of your sleep?)"

"寝る前にスマホを見ると睡眠が浅くなるって本当だと思いますか？(Do you think it's true that looking at your smartphone before bed makes your sleep shallow?)"

"日本人は世界で一番睡眠時間が短いらしいですが、どう思いますか？(I heard Japanese people have the shortest sleep time in the world, what do you think about that?)"

일기 주제

昨日の夜の睡眠はどうでしたか？何時間寝て、どんな気分で起きましたか？(How was your sleep last night? How many hours did you sleep, and how did you feel waking up?)

あなたにとって理想的な睡眠環境（ベッド、温度、音など）について書いてください。(Write about your ideal sleep environment: bed, temperature, sound, etc.)

睡眠不足になった時、あなたの体や心にどんな変化が起こりますか？(When you lack sleep, what changes happen to your body and mind?)

「睡眠を削ってでもやらなければならないこと」は人生にあると思いますか？(Do you think there are things in life 'you must do even if it means cutting down on sleep'?)

日本の「居眠り」文化について、あなたの国の文化と比較して意見を書いてください。(Write your opinion on Japan's 'inemuri' culture compared to your country's culture.)

자주 묻는 질문

10 질문

No, this is grammatically incorrect and sounds very unnatural. '睡眠' is a noun and is not used with 'する' (suru) to mean 'to sleep'. If you want to say 'I sleep', use the verb '寝る' (neru). If you want to use the word '睡眠', you must say '睡眠をとる' (suimin o toru - to get sleep).

Both mean 'lack of sleep'. '睡眠不足' (suimin busoku) is the formal, standard term used in writing, news, and polite conversation. '寝不足' (nebusoku) is a slightly more casual, colloquial version that you would use with friends or family. Both are very common.

You can say 'よく寝ました' (Yoku nemashita - I slept well) using the verb. If you want to use the noun, you can say '良い睡眠がとれました' (Yoi suimin ga toremashita - I was able to get good sleep) or 'ぐっすり眠れました' (Gussuri nemuremashita - I slept soundly).

Not at all! While it is the medical term, it is used by everyone in daily life when discussing health, habits, or the quality of rest. You will hear it constantly in TV commercials, at the office, and in casual conversations about wellness.

The verb '削る' (kezuru) means to shave, whittle down, or cut back. In Japanese culture, time is often viewed as a resource. '睡眠時間を削る' vividly describes the sacrifice of taking time away from your necessary rest to allocate it to work or study.

'睡眠負債' (suimin fusai) translates to 'sleep debt'. It is a term popularized by sleep researchers to describe the cumulative effect of not getting enough sleep over a long period, which acts like a debt that eventually harms your health.

Yes, you can use '睡眠' to describe the biological sleep of animals in a scientific or objective context (e.g., '犬の睡眠時間' - a dog's sleep time). However, for hibernation, use '冬眠' (toumin).

It is 'heiban' (flat). It starts low on the first mora 'su', goes high on 'i', and stays high for 'mi' and 'n'. Do not stress the first syllable like the English word 'swimming'.

You generally don't. Wishing someone a good night is a set greeting: 'おやすみなさい' (Oyasuminasai). Saying '良い睡眠を' (Yoi suimin o) sounds like a doctor giving clinical advice or a hotel advertisement.

They are simply transliterated and combined with '睡眠'. REM sleep is 'レム睡眠' (remu suimin) and non-REM sleep is 'ノンレム睡眠' (non-remu suimin). These terms are widely understood in Japan.

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