Translation guide
The act of walking or performing other activities while asleep. In Japanese, this is most commonly expressed with the noun 夢遊病 (むゆうびょう) or the verb phrase 夢遊病で歩く, but more natural, everyday expressions also exist.
To refer to sleepwalking as a phenomenon or a single instance.
The standard medical/formal term for sleepwalking. Can be used as a noun.
To describe the action of sleepwalking.
The most direct verbal expression. Can be conjugated normally.
彼はよく夢遊病で歩く。
He often sleepwalks.
夢遊病 is the clinical term and can sound formal or medical. 寝ぼけて歩く is more everyday and describes the groggy, half-asleep state. Use 夢遊病 when discussing the condition seriously, and 寝ぼけて歩く in casual conversation.
寝ぼける on its own means 'to be half-asleep' or 'to be drowsy'. It can be used for actions other than walking, like talking in your sleep (寝ぼけて話す).
彼は夢遊病の症状がある。
He has symptoms of sleepwalking.
Literally 'to walk due to sleepwalking illness'. A clear way to describe the action.
昨夜、夢遊病で歩いていたらしい。
It seems I was sleepwalking last night.
A more colloquial way to say 'walk while half-asleep/drowsy'. 寝ぼける means to be still drowsy or not fully awake.
子供が寝ぼけて歩き回っていた。
The child was walking around sleepwalking.
Literally 'walk while sleeping'. Simple and easily understood, but less idiomatic than 寝ぼけて歩く.
寝ながら歩くなんて信じられない。
I can't believe you walk in your sleep.
Common in casual speech. Implies a state of drowsiness rather than a medical condition.
昨日の夜、寝ぼけて歩いて階段から落ちそうになった。
Last night I was sleepwalking and almost fell down the stairs.
A straightforward description, but can sound a bit literal.
寝ながら歩く癖がある。
I have a habit of sleepwalking.