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Kotomora

眠

sleep, die, sleepy

JLPTN3StatusJōyō · secondary schoolFrequencyTop 2,000Strokes10

Readings

On'yomi

  • ミン

Kun'yomi

  • ねむ.る
  • ねむ.い

Nanori

  • ね

Meaning

眠 centers on the state of being asleep or drowsy. The 'die' sense is a euphemistic extension, likening death to a final sleep.

Most common words using 眠

20 of 129
  • 眠るねむる
    N4

    to sleep

  • 睡眠すいみん
    N3

    sleep

  • 眠いねむい
    N5

    sleepy; drowsy; somnolent

  • 眠りねむり
    N3

    sleep; sleeping

  • 催眠さいみん

    hypnosis

  • 眠れるねむれる

    sleeping; asleep; resting; slumbering

  • 眠気ねむけ
    N1

    sleepiness; drowsiness

  • 居眠りいねむり
    N3

    nodding off (while sitting); dozing

  • 睡眠薬すいみんやく

    sleeping pill; sleep medication

  • 仮眠かみん

    nap; doze

  • 冬眠とうみん
    N1

    hibernation; winter sleep; brumation; torpor

  • 不眠ふみん
    N1

    sleeplessness; insomnia; wakefulness

  • 休眠きゅうみん

    dormancy; quiescence; diapause

  • 不眠症ふみんしょう

    sleeplessness; insomnia; wakefulness

  • 安眠あんみん

    sound sleep; good sleep; quiet sleep

  • 眠たいねむたい
    N1

    sleepy; drowsy

  • 永眠えいみん

    eternal sleep; eternal rest; passing away; death

  • 快眠かいみん

    pleasant sleep; good sleep; sleeping well

  • 眠らすねむらす

    to put to sleep

  • 惰眠だみん

    idle slumber

Explore all words using 眠 →

Study

Etymology

眠 combines 目 (eye) with 民, which likely contributes the sound and may suggest closing or covering, as in the eyes closing in sleep.

Meaning mnemonic

The eye radical 目 beside 民 suggests eyes that are closed or heavy. Picture your eyes slowly shutting as sleep takes over.

Reading mnemonic

For ミン, imagine a person sleeping so deeply they don't notice the mint leaves falling on their closed eyes: mint -> ミン.