Translation guide
Expresses doing something in a sleepy, half-awake manner. Japanese uses adverbs, mimetic words, and descriptive phrases to convey drowsy actions or states.
Describe how someone does something while feeling sleepy or half-asleep, such as speaking, walking, or looking around.
Mimetic adverb for dozing off or being half-asleep, often used with verbs like する (to doze) or しながら (while dozing). Implies intermittent drowsiness.
彼はうとうとしながら講義を聞いていた。
He was listening to the lecture drowsily, nodding off.
Adverbial phrase meaning 'sleepily' or 'looking sleepy'. Used when someone's actions show they are drowsy.
彼女は眠そうに目をこすった。
She rubbed her eyes drowsily.
Mimetic word describing heavy-lidded, drowsy eyes or a languid, sleepy expression. Often used with した目 or した表情.
猫がとろんとした目でこちらを見ていた。
The cat was looking this way with drowsy eyes.
Literally 'as if dozing', used for actions done in a dreamy, half-asleep state. More literary.
彼はまどろむように微笑んだ。
He smiled drowsily, as if in a dream.
Express the state of being drowsy, often as a feeling or condition.
Adjective meaning 'sleepy'. Used to describe one's own feeling or someone else's apparent state.
薬のせいで眠くなった。
I became drowsy because of the medicine.
Adjective meaning 'sluggish' or 'languid', often used when drowsiness is accompanied by physical heaviness.
うとうと emphasizes the intermittent, nodding-off action, while 眠そうに describes the appearance or manner of being sleepy. Use うとうとする for 'doze off', and 眠そうに〜する for 'do something sleepily'.
うとうとしながら運転するのは危険です。
Driving while drowsy (nodding off) is dangerous.
彼は眠そうに返事をした。
He replied drowsily.
I felt kind of sluggish and drowsy all day today.