いい夢見てね
ii yume mite ne
The Japanese phrase for "have a nice dream" is いい夢見てね (ii yume mite ne).
This phrase is used as a parting wish when someone is going to bed, similar to 'sweet dreams' in English.
What does it mean word for word?
Literally, the phrase means "See a good dream, okay?"
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The form いい夢見てね is informal and should be used with friends, family or romantic partners. For a more polite version suitable for someone you are not close with, use いい夢を見てください. Other variations include the formal Oyasumi nasai. Yoi yume o mite kudasai. (Goodnight. Please have a good dream.) and the informal Oyasumi. Yoi yume o. (Goodnight. Have a good dream.).
How does it change in a sentence?
A more polite version of the phrase is いい夢を見てください (ii yume o mite kudasai), which is more suitable for someone you are not close with.
How do you pronounce it?
ii yume mite ne
Did you know?
- If you want to wish someone a dream specifically about something good, you might use the word 吉夢 (kichimu), a formal term for a 'lucky dream' or a dream that predicts good fortune.
- Japanese has the word 夢心地 to describe a state of being so happy or dazed that it feels like you are still in a 'dream-state' while awake.
- In very casual settings, the phrase can be shortened even further to just いい夢を, leaving the verb 'see' entirely implied.
Examples in context
- いい夢見てね。Ii yume mite ne.Have a nice dream.
- おやすみ、いい夢見てね。Oyasumi, ii yume mite ne.Good night, have a nice dream.
Example conversation
Two friends are talking on the phone before going to bed.
- 陽葵 Himariもう寝るね。おやすみ。Mou neru ne. Oyasumi.I'm going to sleep now. Good night.
- 大翔 Hirotoうん、おやすみ。いい夢見てね。Un, oyasumi. Ii yume mite ne.Yeah, good night. Have a nice dream.
- 陽葵 Himariありがとう、大翔くん。Arigatou, Hiroto-kun.Thank you, Hiroto.
- 大翔 Hirotoまた明日ね。Mata ashita ne.See you tomorrow.
