Translation guide
The state of feeling sleepy or on the verge of falling asleep. In Japanese, this is commonly expressed with nouns like 眠気, adjectives like 眠い, or verbs like 眠くなる.
Expressing the feeling of being sleepy or drowsy in everyday situations.
The most common noun for 'drowsiness' or 'sleepiness'. Used in phrases like 'drowsiness hits' or 'I can't shake off my drowsiness'.
I'm really drowsy.
I was overcome by drowsiness during the meeting.
The most common i-adjective meaning 'sleepy' or 'drowsy'. Used to describe one's current state.
Verb phrase meaning 'to become sleepy/drowsy'. Often used when something triggers drowsiness.
I get drowsy when I'm in a warm room.
I get sleepy when I'm full.
Literally 'sleep demon', a somewhat dramatic or literary way to personify drowsiness. Used in expressions like 'attacked by the sleep demon'.
I couldn't fight off the drowsiness.
Referring to drowsiness caused by medication, illness, or medical conditions.
Describing an environment or mood that induces drowsiness, like a lazy afternoon.
Adjective similar to 眠い but can also describe a drowsy atmosphere or feeling of lethargy. Slightly more colloquial.
The drowsy afternoon sunlight.
Phrase meaning 'to induce drowsiness', used for sounds, warmth, etc.
The sound of rain induces drowsiness.
Both mean 'sleepy', but 眠たい is slightly more colloquial and can also describe a drowsy atmosphere. 眠い is the standard, neutral term for personal sleepiness.
Drowsiness (眠気) is specifically the desire to sleep. General fatigue or tiredness is 疲れ (つかれ) or 疲れた (つかれた). Using 眠い when you mean physically exhausted can be misleading.
The patient shows a tendency toward somnolence.