Meaning and Usage
眠る (ねむる) primarily means "to sleep" or "to fall asleep." It is a more literary or formal verb compared to the common ねる (寝る), but both are used in everyday conversation. 眠る often implies the state of being asleep rather than the act of going to bed.
Common Contexts
You will see 眠る used when describing someone sleeping quietly or deeply, such as a baby or someone who has fallen asleep quickly. It can also be used in expressions about the importance of sleep or the consequences of not sleeping enough.
Collocations and Patterns
- 眠る時間 (ねむるじかん): "sleeping time" — used when talking about how much time one spends sleeping.
- 静かに眠る (しずかにねむる): "to sleep quietly" — often used to describe peaceful sleep.
- 眠ってしまう (ねむってしまう): "to fall asleep (completely)" — expresses that someone fell asleep unintentionally or quickly.
Register and Nuance
眠る is slightly more formal or literary than 寝る but is still common in spoken Japanese. It often conveys a peaceful or natural sleep state. Learners sometimes confuse 眠る with 寝る; remember 寝る can mean "to go to bed" or "to lie down," while 眠る focuses on the actual sleeping state.
Tips for Learners
Use 眠る when you want to emphasize the act of being asleep or the quality of sleep. For example, when describing a baby or someone who fell asleep quickly, 眠る sounds more natural and expressive than 寝る.