How to say "sleepy" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 眠いねむいi-adjectiveThe all-purpose word for the feeling of needing sleep: heavy eyelids, drowsiness, wanting to doze off. Use it for any 'I'm sleepy' moment, whether late at night or in the middle of the afternoon.
- 眠たいねむたいi-adjectiveNear-synonymous with 眠い and generally interchangeable with it; it often carries a somewhat stronger, more insistent feeling of drowsiness, as when you can barely keep your eyes open.
Both words mean feeling sleepy and are largely interchangeable; 「眠い」 is the all-purpose choice, while 「眠たい」 says much the same thing, often with a slightly stronger or more insistent feeling of drowsiness.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
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