Meaning and Usage
The verb 寝る (ねる) primarily means "to sleep" or "to go to bed." It is a common, everyday verb used in casual and polite contexts.
Common Contexts
You will often hear 寝る when talking about going to sleep at night, taking naps, or describing how well someone sleeps. It can also imply lying down to rest.
Collocations and Patterns
- 寝る時間 (ねるじかん): bedtime or sleeping time
- 早く寝る (はやくねる): to go to bed early
- よく寝る: to sleep well or a lot
Usage Notes
寝る is a straightforward verb but can sometimes be confused with 眠る (ねむる), which specifically means "to fall asleep" or "to be asleep." 寝る focuses more on the act of going to bed or lying down to sleep.
Common Mistake
Avoid using 寝る to mean "to lie down" in all contexts; sometimes 寝転ぶ (ねころぶ) or 横になる (よこになる) are more appropriate when emphasizing lying down without necessarily sleeping.