眠たい・睡たい|ねむたいnemutai[0]heiban (flat)
ねぶたいnebutai
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Which spelling to use
眠たい眠たい is the common form and the recommended choice for beginners; use it when writing or referring to this word.
睡たい睡たい is a rarely used variant, also written with kanji and kana, so you will seldom encounter it.
Definitions
- i-adjectivesleepy; drowsy
Conjugation
| Plain form | 眠たい（ねむたい） |
|---|---|
| Polite (desu) | 眠たいです（ねむたいです） |
| Negative (kunai) | 眠たくない（ねむたくない） |
| polite (ku arimasen) | 眠たくありません（ねむたくありません） |
| Past (katta) | 眠たかった（ねむたかった） |
| Past negative (kunakatta) | 眠たくなかった（ねむたくなかった） |
| Te form (kute) | 眠たくて（ねむたくて） |
| Adverbial (ku) | 眠たく（ねむたく） |
| Conditional (kereba) | 眠たければ（ねむたければ） |
| kattara | 眠たかったら（ねむたかったら） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym眠いねむいNeutralThe standard word for feeling sleepy or wanting sleep, and much more common. 「眠たい」 is the more colloquial choice, with a languid, drawn-out feel.
- Related眠たげNeutralDescribes someone looking very sleepy, as in 「眠たげな目」. 「眠たい」 is about feeling sleepy yourself, not about how you appear.
- Related眠げWrittenWritten/formal prose and rare; describes a drowsy-looking appearance. In everyday speech, say 「眠そう」 instead.
- Antonym目覚めているNeutralMeans being awake, not asleep. You can be awake and still sleepy, so it contrasts with 「眠たい」 only on the asleep–awake point.
- Antonym覚醒しているWrittenWritten/formal prose; the opposite of 「眠たい」 on the sleepy–alert axis, meaning the mind is clear and fully alert.
For feeling sleepy, 「眠い」 is the default; 「眠たい」 is the more colloquial choice. For looking sleepy use 「眠たげ」 or 「眠そう」. For being awake say 「目覚めている」 — though awake does not mean not sleepy.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
