夢
dream, vision, illusion
Readings
On'yomi
- ム
- ボウ
Kun'yomi
- ゆめ
- ゆめ.みる
- くら.い
Meaning
夢 centers on the mental experience of a dream: a vision or illusion that feels real while asleep or in a trance-like state.
Most common words using 夢
20 of 101- 夢ゆめN5
dream
- 夢中むちゅうN3
absorbed in; immersed in; crazy about; obsessed with; devoted to
- 悪夢あくむN1
nightmare; bad dream
- 夢見ゆめみ
having a dream
- 夢見るゆめみる
to dream (of)
- 淫夢いんむ
lewd dream; salacious fantasy
- 夢想むそうN1
dream; vision; reverie
- 夢幻むげん
dreams; fantasy; visions
- 夢にもゆめにも
(not) in the slightest; (not) at all
- 夢物語ゆめものがたり
account of a dream
- 夢精むせい
wet dream; nocturnal emission
- 霊夢れいむ
revelatory dream; revelation; a vision
- 無我夢中むがむちゅうN1
losing oneself (in); being absorbed (in); forgetting oneself
- 白昼夢はくちゅうむ
daydream; waking dream
- 初夢はつゆめN1
first dream of the New year (believed to foretell one's luck)
- 夢遊病むゆうびょう
sleepwalking; somnambulism; noctambulism
- 正夢まさゆめ
dream that comes true
- 夢魔むま
nightmare
- 夢枕ゆめまくら
at the bedside where one dreams
- 長年の夢ながねんのゆめ
long-cherished dream
Study
Etymology
夢 originally depicted a person in bed with an eye emphasized, suggesting a dream state. The modern form has been stylized, but the bottom 夕 (evening) and the overall structure still hint at nighttime visions.
Meaning mnemonic
The top 艹 looks like a canopy over a bed, the middle ⺫ resembles a closed eye, and the bottom 冖 and 夕 suggest evening. Picture yourself under the covers at night, eyes closed, drifting into a dream.
Reading mnemonic
For ム, imagine a dream where a cow says 'moo' (ム) instead of mooing. The silly 'moo' sound cues ム while you dream.