もう寝ます
mō nemasu
In Japanese, "I am going to sleep" is expressed as もう寝ます (mō nemasu).
This phrase is used to announce that you are about to go to bed. The word 寝る means to sleep. If you wish to specifically express the act of physically going to bed rather than just the state of sleeping, you can use the phrase 寝床に入る.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The default form もう寝ます is polite and suitable for speaking to acquaintances or people you are not close with. For friends or family, the phrase もう寝るね is a more natural, informal way to say "I am going to sleep now". Other informal variations include 寝るぞ。 and 寝よう。
How do you pronounce it?
mō nemasu
When do people say it?
While もう寝ます announces your intention to go to sleep, the standard phrase used to say "good night" to others is おやすみなさい. A sentence like 今晩は早く寝る予定です。 can be used to say "Tonight, I plan to sleep early."
Did you know?
- Japanese has a specific term 二度寝 meaning 'sleeping a second time', used when someone wakes up and decides to go back to sleep.
- Historically, the concept of 'going to bed' was linked to 布団 (futons) which are rolled up and put away, making the physical act of 'entering' a bed different from Western habits.
- The phrase 寝る is used in the expression 寝言, which refers to 'sleep-talking' or, metaphorically, saying something absurd or unrealistic.
Examples in context
- もう寝床に入ります。I am going to bed now.
- もう寝ます。mō nemasu.I'm going to sleep now.
- 疲れたので、もう寝ます。tsukareta node, mō nemasu.I'm tired, so I'm going to sleep now.
- おやすみなさい、もう寝ます。oyasuminasai, mō nemasu.Good night, I'm going to sleep now.
Example conversation
Misaki and Kenta are talking in the living room at night.
- 健太 Kentaまだ起きてるの？Mada okiteru no?Are you still awake?
- 美咲 Misakiうん、でももう寝ます。Un, demo mō nemasu.Yes, but I am going to sleep now.
- 健太 Kentaわかった。おやすみ。Wakatta. Oyasumi.I see. Good night.
- 美咲 Misakiおやすみなさい。Oyasuminasai.Good night.
