夢を見ている
yume o mite iru
The Japanese phrase for "dreaming" is 夢を見ている (yume o mite iru).
This phrase describes the act of experiencing images or stories in the mind while sleeping. In Japanese, you express this by saying you are "seeing" a dream (夢を見る) rather than "having" a dream (夢を持つ).
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 夢 (yume) meaning "dream", を (o) the object marker and 見ている (mite iru) meaning "is seeing/looking".
How does it change in a sentence?
The form 夢を見ている describes the continuous state of dreaming currently in progress. To express the general ability or habit of dreaming, you would use the dictionary form 夢を見る.
How do you pronounce it?
yume o mite iru
Did you know?
- The word 夢 (yume) is used in the phrase 夢中 (muchū) to describe being completely absorbed in something. Literally meaning 'inside a dream', it is the common way to say you are 'crazy' about a hobby or person.
- In traditional Japanese folklore, dreams were often seen as messages from the gods or warnings. This historical view influenced the use of 見る (to see), as the dreamer was viewed as a witness to a divine revelation.
- The phrase 夢心地 (yumegokochi) describes a state of 'dreamy bliss'. It is often used to describe the feeling of being in a state of euphoria or being pleasantly disconnected from reality.
Examples in context
- まるで夢を見ているようだよ。I feel as if I were dreaming.This sentence is useful for expressing how something feels as if you were dreaming using 夢を見ている.Tatoeba #158843 by bunbuku, translation #255684 by CK
- まるで夢を見ているかのような気分だった。I felt as if I were dreaming.This sentence is useful for describing a feeling as if you were dreaming using 夢を見ている.Tatoeba #195140 by bunbuku, translation #32314 by CK
Example conversation
Hiroto and Himari are talking about their sleep quality.
- 大翔 Hiroto最近、よく夢を見ているよ。Saikin, yoku yume o mite iru yo.I've been dreaming a lot lately.
- 陽葵 Himariどんな夢を見るの？Donna yume o miru no?What kind of dreams do you have?
- 大翔 Hiroto空を飛ぶ夢を見ていることが多いな。Sora o tobu yume o mite iru koto ga ooi na.I often dream that I'm flying in the sky.
- 陽葵 Himariそれは楽しそうだね。Sore wa tanoshisō da ne.That sounds like fun.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
