Translation guide
The state of sleeping. In Japanese, this is usually expressed with verbs or adjectives that describe being asleep, not a direct one-word equivalent.
To say that someone is currently sleeping.
The most common and natural way to say someone is asleep. It literally means 'is sleeping'.
赤ちゃんはもう寝ている。
The baby is already asleep.
彼はソファで寝ている。
He is asleep on the sofa.
Similar to 寝ている but slightly more literary or emphatic. Often used in written descriptions.
子供たちはぐっすり眠っている。
The children are fast asleep.
Means 'has fallen asleep' or 'is sound asleep'. Emphasizes the state of being deeply asleep.
彼は深く寝入っている。
He is sound asleep.
To describe the process of going from awake to asleep.
The basic verb for 'to sleep' or 'to go to bed'. In context, it can mean 'to fall asleep'.
昨夜は早く寝た。
I fell asleep early last night.
Means 'to sleep' or 'to fall asleep'. Often used in more formal or written contexts.
Literally 'to enter sleep', meaning to fall asleep. Less common in everyday speech.
To describe a state of being not awake, possibly due to anesthesia, fainting, or being knocked out.
Means 'unconscious'. Used when someone is not awake due to medical reasons or injury.
事故の後、彼は意識がなかった。
After the accident, he was unconscious.
Literally 'seems to be asleep'. Can be used euphemistically for someone who is unconscious or dead.
彼女はまるで眠っているようだった。
She looked as if she were asleep.
To say a body part is 'asleep' in the sense of tingling or numb.
When a body part is numb or tingling, use しびれる, not 寝ている. 寝ている only refers to sleeping.
He fell asleep immediately.
I was finally able to fall asleep.