When you're feeling sleepy and just need a quick rest, that's 打盹儿. It's more common and practical than a full nap like 睡觉 or 午睡. Think of it as a short, unplanned sleep, often happening when you're sitting or in a relaxed position. It's a great word to describe those moments when your eyelids get heavy, and you just drift off for a bit.
When we talk about catching some quick Z's, Chinese speakers often use the term 打盹儿 (dǎdǔnr). This isn't for a full night's sleep, but rather a short, light nap, like when you doze off on the sofa or during a long meeting. It's similar to the English phrase "to doze off."
You can use it to describe someone who is accidentally falling asleep for a brief period. It's a casual and common expression. Remember, it's about a brief, often unintentional, period of sleep.
Examples by Level
他上课打盹儿了。
He dozed off during class.
我昨天晚上没睡好，所以白天总想打盹儿。
I didn't sleep well last night, so I keep wanting to nap during the day.
午饭后，他喜欢在沙发上打盹儿。
After lunch, he likes to nap on the sofa.
小猫在阳光下打盹儿。
The kitten is napping in the sun.
如果你累了，可以打个盹儿。
If you're tired, you can take a nap.
会议太无聊了，我差点儿打盹儿。
The meeting was so boring, I almost dozed off.
我妈妈下午常常打盹儿。
My mom often naps in the afternoon.
坐火车的时候，我喜欢打盹儿。
When riding the train, I like to nap.
我昨晚没睡好，所以在会议上忍不住打盹儿。
I didn't sleep well last night, so I couldn't help but doze off during the meeting.
忍不住 (rěn bu zhù) means 'cannot help but'.
午饭后，他总喜欢在沙发上打个盹儿。
After lunch, he always likes to take a nap on the sofa.
打个盹儿 (dǎ gè dǔn'r) is a common way to say 'take a nap'.
长途旅行中，司机需要偶尔停车打盹儿以保持清醒。
During long-distance travel, drivers need to occasionally stop and nap to stay awake.
以 (yǐ) can mean 'in order to' or 'so as to'.
奶奶年纪大了，常常在摇椅上打盹儿。
Grandma is old and often dozes off in her rocking chair.
常常 (chángcháng) means 'often' or 'frequently'.
他在图书馆看书的时候，不知不觉就打盹儿了。
While reading in the library, he unconsciously dozed off.
不知不觉 (bù zhī bù jué) means 'unconsciously' or 'without realizing it'.
工作了一上午，我感觉有点累，想打个盹儿。
After working all morning, I feel a bit tired and want to take a nap.
有点儿 (yǒudiǎn'r) means 'a bit' or 'somewhat'.
公共汽车上太暖和了，好几个人都打盹儿了。
It was too warm on the bus, and several people dozed off.
好几 (hǎo jǐ) means 'several'.
他上夜班回来，通常会先打个盹儿再吃早饭。
He usually takes a nap first before having breakfast after coming back from the night shift.
通常 (tōngcháng) means 'usually' or 'generally'.
Test Yourself 36 questions
Write a short sentence about someone feeling sleepy after lunch.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
他午饭后很困。
Write a sentence saying 'I like to sleep'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
我喜欢睡觉。
Write a simple sentence describing someone resting.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
他正在休息。
小猫喜欢做什么？
Read this passage:
小猫很可爱。它喜欢睡觉。
小猫喜欢做什么？
文章中说小猫喜欢睡觉。
文章中说小猫喜欢睡觉。
这个学生什么时候起床？
Read this passage:
这是一个学生。他早上很早起床。
这个学生什么时候起床？
文章中说他早上很早起床。
文章中说他早上很早起床。
我的朋友喜欢做什么？
Read this passage:
我的朋友喜欢看书。他每天都看书。
我的朋友喜欢做什么？
文章中说我的朋友喜欢看书。
文章中说我的朋友喜欢看书。
I like to ______ on the sofa.
He often ______ during class.
I need to ______ after lunch.
Read this aloud:
你喜欢打盹儿吗？
Focus: 打盹儿 (dǎdùnr)
You said:
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Read this aloud:
我太累了，想打盹儿。
Focus: 太累了 (tài lèi le)
You said:
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Read this aloud:
他在图书馆打盹儿。
Focus: 图书馆 (túshūguǎn)
You said:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Choose the best translation for '打盹儿':
打盹儿 (dǎdūn'er) specifically means to doze off or take a nap.
Which of the following situations is appropriate for using '打盹儿'?
打盹儿 implies a short, light sleep, often due to tiredness.
Complete the sentence: 开了一夜的车，他觉得很疲惫，忍不住在路边___。
After driving all night, he was exhausted and couldn't help but doze off by the roadside. '打盹儿' fits the context of being tired and briefly falling asleep.
It is safe for a driver to 打盹儿 while driving.
No, it is very dangerous for a driver to doze off while driving, as it can lead to accidents.
If someone is full of energy, they are likely to 打盹儿.
No, 打盹儿 happens when someone is tired or sleepy, not when they are full of energy.
Taking a short 打盹儿 after lunch can help you feel more refreshed.
Yes, a short nap or doze after lunch, often called a 'power nap,' can indeed help refresh you.
You were on a long train journey and accidentally dozed off. Describe what happened when you woke up, using '打盹儿'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
在漫长的火车旅途中，我不知不觉地打了个盹儿。当我醒来时，发现列车已经到了终点站，而车厢里只剩下我一个人，这让我吓了一跳。
Describe a situation where someone might '打盹儿' during a meeting or lecture, and the potential consequences.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
在一次漫长而枯燥的会议中，小王忍不住打了个盹儿。结果，他错过了老板布置的重要任务，并在被点名时一脸茫然，场面十分尴尬。
Imagine you saw your friend '打盹儿' in a funny or unexpected place. Write a short anecdote about it.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
昨天，我在图书馆发现我的朋友竟然趴在书堆上打盹儿，手里还拿着一本厚厚的哲学书。他睡得正香，周围的同学都忍不住笑了。
根据这段话，为什么有些学生会打盹儿？
Read this passage:
教授的讲座内容过于深奥，很多人都听得一头雾水。坐在后排的几个学生甚至忍不住开始打盹儿，头一点一点的，差点就睡着了。
根据这段话，为什么有些学生会打盹儿？
文章中明确提到“教授的讲座内容过于深奥，很多人都听得一头雾水”，这是导致学生打盹儿的原因。
文章中明确提到“教授的讲座内容过于深奥，很多人都听得一头雾水”，这是导致学生打盹儿的原因。
司机采取了什么措施来应对疲劳？
Read this passage:
司机在长途驾驶中感到疲劳，为了安全起见，他决定找个服务区小憩一会儿。然而，他只是打了个盹儿，并没有真正睡着，就继续上路了。
司机采取了什么措施来应对疲劳？
文章中提到“他决定找个服务区小憩一会儿”，并且用了“打了个盹儿”来描述这个行为。
文章中提到“他决定找个服务区小憩一会儿”，并且用了“打了个盹儿”来描述这个行为。
这段话描述了午饭后办公室里的一种什么现象？
Read this passage:
午饭后，办公室里总是弥漫着一股懒散的气氛。不少同事会趴在桌上打个盹儿，或者起身去倒杯咖啡，缓解午后的困倦。
这段话描述了午饭后办公室里的一种什么现象？
文章描述了“弥漫着一股懒散的气氛”和“不少同事会趴在桌上打个盹儿”，这表明办公室气氛轻松。
文章描述了“弥漫着一股懒散的气氛”和“不少同事会趴在桌上打个盹儿”，这表明办公室气氛轻松。
The speaker didn't sleep well and wants to doze off.
An old man is napping on a park bench.
The listener is warned not to doze off while driving due to danger.
Read this aloud:
长时间工作后，我常常需要打个盹儿来恢复精力。
Focus: 打盹儿
You said:
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Read this aloud:
她一听到舒缓的音乐就会打盹儿。
Focus: 打盹儿
You said:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
在图书馆里，很多人会找个安静的角落打盹儿。
Focus: 打盹儿
You said:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Imagine you are an elderly person on a long train journey. Describe a situation where you might find yourself 打盹儿 (dozing off) and the reasons behind it. Include your feelings before, during, and after you 打盹儿.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
火车上，我看着窗外飞驰而过的风景，感觉眼皮越来越重。昨晚没睡好，加上旅途劳顿，我不由自主地打起了盹儿。起初，我还在努力抵抗睡意，但车厢的轻微摇晃和单调的轰鸣声像催眠曲一样，很快我就进入了浅睡状态。醒来时，脖子有些僵硬，但精神好多了，仿佛充电了一般。
You are a university student struggling to stay awake during a particularly boring lecture. Describe your internal monologue and external actions as you try to resist 打盹儿. What strategies do you employ, and do they succeed?
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
教授的声音像背景音乐一样在耳边循环，我感觉我的眼皮正在进行一场艰苦的搏斗。我试图掐自己大腿，喝冰水，甚至假装记笔记来保持清醒，但这一切似乎都收效甚微。我的思绪开始飘散，直到教授突然提问，我才猛地惊醒，发现自己差点就打盹儿了。
Write a short story (approximately 150-200 characters) about a security guard who has to fight the urge to 打盹儿 during their night shift. Focus on the internal conflict and the potential consequences if they succumb to sleep.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
夜深了，值班室里只有微弱的灯光。保安老王强撑着眼皮，咖啡已经喝了两杯，但倦意还是像潮水一样袭来。他知道自己不能打盹儿，否则可能会错过什么。他努力睁大眼睛，用力摇了摇头，试图驱散这股睡意。一旦打盹儿，后果不堪设想，他深知责任重大。
根据短文，张教授为什么会打盹儿？
Read this passage:
在一个阳光明媚的下午，图书馆里异常安静。张教授坐在靠窗的位置，手中捧着一本古籍。他已经研究了好几个小时，眼睛开始感到疲惫。虽然努力保持清醒，但他还是不知不觉地打起了盹儿。阳光洒在他的脸上，给他疲惫的脸庞增添了几分安详。
根据短文，张教授为什么会打盹儿？
短文中明确提到“他已经研究了好几个小时，眼睛开始感到疲惫”，这是他打盹儿的原因。
短文中明确提到“他已经研究了好几个小时，眼睛开始感到疲惫”，这是他打盹儿的原因。
小李在会议上打盹儿的主要原因是什么？
Read this passage:
小李昨天晚上熬夜赶报告，今天上午的会议上，她一直强忍着睡意。老板的讲话冗长而乏味，小李感觉眼皮越来越重。她试图通过喝水和做笔记来保持清醒，但最终还是没能抵住睡意，在会议进行到一半时打了个盹儿。醒来后，她感到非常尴尬。
小李在会议上打盹儿的主要原因是什么？
短文中提到“小李昨天晚上熬夜赶报告”，这是导致她在会议上打盹儿的根本原因。
短文中提到“小李昨天晚上熬夜赶报告”，这是导致她在会议上打盹儿的根本原因。
为了避免长途驾驶时打盹儿，司机可以采取哪些措施？
Read this passage:
在长途旅行中，司机保持清醒至关重要。长时间驾驶容易使人疲劳，从而导致打盹儿，这会带来极大的安全隐患。为了避免打盹儿，司机应该定期休息，喝咖啡或能量饮料，并确保充足的睡眠。行车安全容不得半点马虎。
为了避免长途驾驶时打盹儿，司机可以采取哪些措施？
短文明确指出了“为了避免打盹儿，司机应该定期休息，喝咖啡或能量饮料，并确保充足的睡眠”这些措施。
短文明确指出了“为了避免打盹儿，司机应该定期休息，喝咖啡或能量饮料，并确保充足的睡眠”这些措施。
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朝九晚五
B2From nine to five; regular working hours.
未免
B2Rather; a bit too; truly (implies something excessive).
废弃
B2To abandon; to discard; to cease to use.
恪守
B2To scrupulously observe; to strictly adhere to.
反常
B2abnormal, unusual
充裕
B2Abundant; ample.
充沛
B2Abundant; plentiful; full of energy.
门禁卡
B2Access card; entry card.
门禁
B2Access control (system).
配件
B2Fittings; accessories; spare parts.
