Translation guide
How to express the act of going to sleep in Japanese, from casual to formal, including falling asleep and going to bed.
Expressing the action of going to sleep or going to bed in everyday conversation.
The most common and versatile verb for 'to sleep' or 'to go to bed'. Can mean both 'to lie down to sleep' and 'to fall asleep'.
もう寝るね。
I'm going to sleep now.
昨日は早く寝た。
I went to bed early yesterday.
Focuses on the state of sleeping or falling asleep, rather than the act of going to bed. More literary or formal than 寝る.
赤ちゃんがすやすや眠っている。
The baby is sleeping peacefully.
A slightly formal or literary expression meaning 'to go to bed' or 'to retire for the night'.
彼はいつも早く床につく。
He always goes to bed early.
Describing the moment of transitioning from awake to asleep.
Means 'to fall asleep', often used when it takes time or effort.
なかなか寝付けなかった。
I couldn't fall asleep for a long time.
A slightly poetic or formal way to say 'to fall asleep'.
静かな音楽を聴きながら眠りについた。
I fell asleep listening to quiet music.
Means 'to fall asleep', often implying a deep sleep. Less common in daily speech.
Expressing going to sleep in polite or formal situations.
Means 'to rest' and is often used as a polite euphemism for going to sleep, especially in business or formal contexts.
お先に休ませていただきます。
I'll go to bed now (lit. I'll rest before you).
A formal term for 'going to bed' or 'retiring for the night', used in official contexts like hotels or announcements.
就寝時間は10時です。
Lights out is at 10 o'clock.
Expressing the intention or preparation to go to sleep.
Means 'I think I'll go to sleep' or 'I'm planning to go to bed'. A natural way to announce your intention.
そろそろ寝ようと思う。
I think I'll go to bed soon.
Literally 'to prepare for bed', used when you are getting ready to sleep.
寝る準備をしてから電話するね。
I'll call you after I get ready for bed.
寝る (neru) is the everyday word for going to bed or sleeping. 眠る (nemuru) emphasizes the state of being asleep and is more literary. Use 寝る for most situations.
昨日はよく寝た？
Did you sleep well last night?
彼は深く眠っている。
He is deeply asleep.
English 'going to sleep' is an action, while 'sleeping' is a state. In Japanese, 寝ている (nete iru) means 'is sleeping', not 'is going to sleep'.
彼は今寝ている。
He is sleeping now.
The child fell asleep right away.