In 15 Seconds
- Describes a recurring weekly sleep habit or routine.
- Commonly used to discuss weekend recovery or naps.
- Usually requires a time or day to sound natural.
Meaning
This phrase describes a recurring weekly habit or routine of sleeping at a specific time or in a specific way. It is most often used to talk about catching up on rest or having a consistent 'sleep-in' day.
Key Examples
3 of 6Talking about weekend routines
毎週日曜日は昼まで寝る。
Every Sunday I sleep until noon.
Explaining why you are busy
毎週、仕事の後はすぐ寝ることにしています。
Every week, I make it a point to sleep right after work.
Formal health discussion
毎週、週末は十分な睡眠をとって寝るように心がけています。
Every week, I try to make sure I get enough sleep on the weekends.
Cultural Background
In Japan, where long working hours are common, the concept of 'sleeping in' on weekends is a vital part of social conversation. The phrase reflects a culture that balances extreme diligence with a deep need for scheduled recovery. It often implies a 'recharging' period rather than just laziness.
Add an Adverb
Use `ぐっすり` (gussuri) before `寝る` to say you sleep 'soundly' or 'deeply.' It makes you sound much more like a native speaker.
Don't confuse with 'Every Day'
If you mean you sleep every night (as humans do), use `毎日` (mainichi). `毎週` implies a specific weekly event or exception.
In 15 Seconds
- Describes a recurring weekly sleep habit or routine.
- Commonly used to discuss weekend recovery or naps.
- Usually requires a time or day to sound natural.
What It Means
You know that feeling when Friday finally hits? You’ve survived the grind, and all you want to do is crash. 毎週寝る literally means "every week sleep," but it’s not just about the biological necessity. It’s about your ritual. It’s the backbone of your recovery story. When you use this phrase, you’re usually highlighting a specific window of time you’ve carved out for rest. Maybe it’s your sacred Sunday afternoon nap or your Saturday morning marathon slumber. It’s a simple way to tell someone, "This is how I recharge my batteries."
How To Use It
Using this phrase is like building a Lego set; it works best when you add a few extra pieces. While 毎週寝る is grammatically correct, it sounds a bit bare on its own. You’ll usually want to pair it with a day of the week or a specific time. For example, you might say 日曜日は毎週寝る (I sleep every Sunday). You can also add a duration to show off your sleeping skills, like 毎週10時間寝る (I sleep 10 hours every week). It’s a flexible building block that fits perfectly at the end of a sentence when you're chatting about your lifestyle.
When To Use It
This is your go-to phrase for "lifestyle" talk. Use it when a friend asks about your weekend plans and you want to sound relatable. (Let’s be honest, sleeping is a top-tier hobby!) It’s also great for texting. If you missed a call on a Saturday afternoon, you can text back saying that’s when you always sleep. It’s also useful in health contexts. If you’re talking to a trainer or a doctor about your habits, this phrase helps you describe your consistency. It shows that you prioritize your downtime, which is a big deal in a fast-paced world.
When NOT To Use It
Don’t use this if you are literally walking toward your bed right now. For that, you just need 寝る (I’m going to sleep). Adding 毎週 makes it a recurring event, not a one-time action. Also, avoid this in high-level business reports or formal speeches. It’s a bit too casual and personal for a professional document. In those cases, you’d use more formal terms like 就寝 (shūshin). And definitely don’t use it if you mean "I sleep every day." That’s 毎日寝る. If you say 毎週, people might jokingly ask what you do for the other six days of the week!
Cultural Background
Japan has a legendary relationship with sleep. You’ve probably heard of *inemuri*—the art of napping in public or even during meetings. Because the work culture is so intense, sleep is often viewed as a hard-earned luxury. 毎週寝る often carries a hidden meaning of "recovery." For many Japanese office workers, the weekend isn't for hiking or partying; it's for *asane* (sleeping in). Using this phrase connects you to that universal culture of working hard and resting even harder. It’s a badge of honor for the exhausted.
Common Variations
You can easily spice this up to be more descriptive. 毎週昼寝する means you take a weekly nap. If you’re truly exhausted, you might say 毎週泥のように寝る, which means you sleep "like mud" (the Japanese version of sleeping like a log). You can also change the frequency to 毎晩寝る (every night) or 毎週末寝る (every weekend). To be more polite, just change the ending to 毎週寝ます. Adding the word ぐっすり (soundly) makes it sound even more satisfying and deep.
Usage Notes
This phrase is neutral but leans toward informal. When using it, always try to specify *when* or *how much* you sleep to avoid sounding like you only sleep once a week!
Add an Adverb
Use `ぐっすり` (gussuri) before `寝る` to say you sleep 'soundly' or 'deeply.' It makes you sound much more like a native speaker.
Don't confuse with 'Every Day'
If you mean you sleep every night (as humans do), use `毎日` (mainichi). `毎週` implies a specific weekly event or exception.
The 'Mud' Sleep
In Japan, if you are extremely tired, you say you sleep like 'mud' (`泥のように寝る`). It's the equivalent of 'sleeping like a log' and is very relatable.
Examples
6毎週日曜日は昼まで寝る。
Every Sunday I sleep until noon.
A very common way to describe a relaxing weekend.
毎週、仕事の後はすぐ寝ることにしています。
Every week, I make it a point to sleep right after work.
Shows a disciplined approach to rest.
毎週、週末は十分な睡眠をとって寝るように心がけています。
Every week, I try to make sure I get enough sleep on the weekends.
Uses a more polite structure for a professional setting.
毎週、土曜の午後は絶対寝るから連絡しないでｗ
I definitely sleep every Saturday afternoon, so don't contact me lol.
The 'w' at the end adds a laughing tone.
毎週、あの校長の長い話を聞きながら寝るんだ。
Every week, I sleep while listening to that principal's long speech.
A humorous way to express boredom.
毎週、祖母の家で静かに寝る時間が一番幸せです。
The time I spend sleeping quietly at my grandmother's house every week is my happiest moment.
Expresses emotional comfort and peace.
Test Yourself
Complete the sentence to say you sleep until 10 AM every Sunday.
毎週日曜日は10時___寝る。
The particle `まで` (made) means 'until,' which is used to indicate the end point of the sleep duration.
Choose the most natural way to say you take a nap every week.
毎週___寝る。
`昼寝` (hirune) specifically means 'nap' or 'daytime sleep,' making the sentence 'I take a nap every week.'
🎉 Score: /2
Visual Learning Aids
Sleep Formality Spectrum
Used with friends or family.
毎週寝る (Maishū neru)
Standard polite conversation.
毎週寝ます (Maishū nemasu)
Professional or medical context.
毎週就寝します (Maishū shūshin shimasu)
When to use 'Maishū Neru'
Sunday Recovery
Sleeping until noon to recover from work.
Boring Meetings
Admitting you nod off in a weekly seminar.
Health Routine
Telling a doctor about your sleep habits.
Texting Friends
Explaining why you're unavailable on Saturdays.
Practice Bank
2 exercises毎週日曜日は10時___寝る。
The particle `まで` (made) means 'until,' which is used to indicate the end point of the sleep duration.
毎週___寝る。
`昼寝` (hirune) specifically means 'nap' or 'daytime sleep,' making the sentence 'I take a nap every week.'
🎉 Score: /2
Frequently Asked Questions
12 questionsIt's grammatically correct but a bit vague. It's much more natural to add a day or time, like 毎週日曜日に寝る.
No, 毎週寝る refers to the state of sleeping as a habit. To say 'I go to bed at 10 every week,' say 毎週10時に寝る.
寝る (neru) usually refers to the act of lying down or going to bed, while 眠る (nemuru) refers to the physiological state of being asleep.
Use the phrase 昼まで寝る (hiru made neru). Combined, it's 毎週、昼まで寝る.
Not really. Use the polite form 寝ます (nemasu) or the even more professional 睡眠をとります (suimin o torimasu).
Yes! You can say 私の猫は毎週この時間に寝る (My cat sleeps at this time every week).
Younger people might use 爆睡する (bakusui suru) to mean 'sleeping explosively' or very deeply.
Use 毎週末 (maishūmatsu) instead of 毎週. For example: 毎週末、たくさん寝る.
In Japan, it often implies you are working so hard during the week that you *need* to sleep. It's more about recovery than laziness.
Avoid it. Talking about sleeping habits in an interview might give the wrong impression unless you're discussing health management.
It means 'to sleep like mud,' which is a common idiom for sleeping very deeply because you are exhausted.
Use the negative form: 毎週、全然寝ない (I don't sleep at all every week/regularly).
Related Phrases
昼寝する (To take a nap)
二度寝する (To go back to sleep/oversleep)
夜更かしする (To stay up late)
熟睡する (To sleep soundly)
寝坊する (To oversleep/wake up late)
