寝る・寐る|ねるneru[0]heiban (flat)
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Which spelling to use
寝る寝る is the most common form and the recommended choice for beginners. It is written with kanji and kana.
寐る寐る is a rarely used written variant, also written with kanji and kana; you will seldom encounter it, so do not use it by default.
Definitions
- ichidan verb, intransitive verbto sleep (lying down)
- ichidan verb, intransitive verbto go to bed; to lie in bed
- ichidan verb, intransitive verbto lie down
- ichidan verb, intransitive verbto sleep (with someone, i.e. have intercourse)
- ichidan verb, intransitive verbto lie flat (e.g. of hair)
- ichidan verb, intransitive verbto lie idle (of funds, stock, etc.)
- ichidan verb, intransitive verbto ferment (of soy sauce, miso, etc.)
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 寝る（ねる） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 寝ます（ねます） |
| Negative (nai) | 寝ない（ねない） |
| polite (masen) | 寝ません（ねません） |
| classical zu / nu | 寝ず・寝ぬ（ねず・ねぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 寝た（ねた） |
| polite (mashita) | 寝ました（ねました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 寝なかった（ねなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 寝ませんでした（ねませんでした） |
| Te form | 寝て（ねて） |
| Potential | 寝られる（ねられる） |
| Passive | 寝られる（ねられる） |
| Causative | 寝させる（ねさせる） |
| Causative passive | 寝させられる（ねさせられる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 寝れば（ねれば） |
| tara | 寝たら（ねたら） |
| Volitional | 寝よう（ねよう） |
| polite (mashou) | 寝ましょう（ねましょう） |
| Imperative | 寝ろ（ねろ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Transitive / intransitive pair
子供が寝る
寝る describes the subject going to sleep on their own; 寝かせる means to put someone (such as a child) to bed, with the agent causing the sleep.
赤ちゃんが寝る
寝る describes the baby sleeping by itself; 寝かす is a transitive verb meaning to put a baby to bed, as in 赤ちゃんを寝かす.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym眠るねむるNeutralRefers to falling asleep or being asleep, and figuratively to lying idle or eternal rest; 「寝る」 can just mean going to bed or lying down without sleeping.
- Synonym就寝しゅうしんWrittenWritten term for going to bed, typical of schedules and notices such as 「就寝時間」.
- Synonym臥せるふせるWrittenWritten word for being laid up in bed with an illness, as in 「風邪で臥せっている」; carries a nuance of sickness.
- Synonym就眠しゅうみんWrittenWritten term for falling asleep; very rare, and 「眠る」 is what people say in daily life.
- Synonym平臥へいがWrittenWritten term for lying flat or being bedridden with illness; not used in daily conversation.
- Synonym臥するがするWrittenWritten word for lying down or taking to one's bed, with a classical, literary flavor.
- Synonym臥すふすWrittenWritten word for taking to bed, often through illness, as in 「病に臥す」.
- Related寝転ぶねころぶNeutralMeans lying down casually, as in 「芝生に寝転ぶ」; the focus is on resting there, not necessarily sleeping.
- Related横たわるよこたわるNeutralMeans lying stretched out, and figuratively that problems or obstacles lie ahead, as in 「問題が横たわる」.
- Related横たえるよこたえるWrittenTransitive: to lay a body or object down flat, as in 「体を横たえる」; written in tone.
- Related横臥おうがWrittenWritten term for lying on one's side or lying flat; not used in everyday speech.
- Related寝っ転がるねっころがるCasualColloquial, emphatic variant of 「寝転がる」 for flopping down on the floor; stresses the posture, not sleep.
- Related就床しゅうしょうWrittenWritten word for going to bed, synonymous with 「就寝」 but very rare.
- Related寝転がるねころがるCasualColloquial word for lounging or lying down casually, as in 「ソファに寝転がる」; common in speech.
- Antonym覚めるさめるNeutralThe antonym of 「寝る」: to wake up from sleep.
For sleeping or lying down, 「寝る」 is the default. Use 「眠る」 to stress being asleep, 「就寝」 for bedtimes on schedules and notices, 「寝転ぶ」 for lying down casually, and 「臥せる」 for being bedridden with illness. The remaining written terms are rare or literary; 「覚める」 is the antonym.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also
