寝る
ねる
neru
= to sleep / to go to bed / to lie down
Neru (寝る) means ‘to sleep’ or ‘to go to bed.’ It’s a fundamental verb describing one of life’s most essential activities—rest and sleep.
Neru is a regular ru-verb meaning ‘to sleep,’ ‘to lie down,’ or ‘to go to bed.’ The verb covers the physical act and the state: neru mae ni (before sleeping), nete iru (is sleeping), nemukunai (not sleepy). Neru combines with particles to express nuances: futon ni neru (lie down on futon), hayaku neru (go to bed early). The progressive ‘nete iru’ emphasizes continuous sleep state. Neru also appears in expressions: ‘neru yori saki’ (before going to sleep), indicating immediacy.
Neru is a ru-verb: ner-anai (doesn’t sleep), net-ta (slept), ner-you (will sleep). Common expressions: nema ku naru (become unable to sleep), yoku neta (slept well), mou neru (going to sleep now). The word ‘suimin’ (睡眠) is formal sleep, while neru is casual. Combinations with time: san-jikan neru (sleep three hours), osoku neru (sleep late).
寝 (neru) depicts a person lying down, representing sleep and rest.
Everyday use
毎晩10時に寝ます。
Maiban juji ni nemasu.
I sleep at 10 PM every night.
Casual / Social Media
昨夜よく寝ました。
Sakuya yoku nemashita.
I slept well last night.
Formal / Cultural context
疲れたので、すぐに寝ることにしました。
Tsukareta node, sugu ni neru koto ni shimashita.
I was tired, so I decided to go to bed right away.
Sleep habits vary culturally. Japanese work culture often involves long hours, making adequate sleep a concern. The phrase ‘neru jikan mo nai’ (no time to sleep) reflects workplace intensity.
Traditional Japanese sleeping arrangements included futon (bedding) rather than raised beds, reflected in neru’s association with lying down. Modern Japanese balance traditional values with contemporary needs.
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