Translation guide
The state of sleeping. In Japanese, this is usually expressed with verbs or adjectives that describe being asleep, not a direct one-word equivalent.
To say that someone is currently sleeping.
The most common and natural way to say someone is asleep. It literally means 'is sleeping'.
The baby is already asleep.
He is asleep on the sofa.
Similar to 寝ている but slightly more literary or emphatic. Often used in written descriptions.
The children are fast asleep.
Means 'has fallen asleep' or 'is sound asleep'. Emphasizes the state of being deeply asleep.
He is sound asleep.
To describe the process of going from awake to asleep.
The basic verb for 'to sleep' or 'to go to bed'. In context, it can mean 'to fall asleep'.
I fell asleep early last night.
Means 'to sleep' or 'to fall asleep'. Often used in more formal or written contexts.
Literally 'to enter sleep', meaning to fall asleep. Less common in everyday speech.
To describe a state of being not awake, possibly due to anesthesia, fainting, or being knocked out.
To say a body part is 'asleep' in the sense of tingling or numb.
When a body part is numb or tingling, use しびれる, not 寝ている. 寝ている only refers to sleeping.
He fell asleep immediately.
やっと寝入ることができた。
I was finally able to fall asleep.