불면증
bulmyeonjeung[puɭmjʌ̹ɲt͡ɕ͈ɯŋ]
The English phrase insomnia is 불면증 (bulmyeonjeung) in Korean.
The term 불면 means insomnia, and the term 증 stands for disorder or syndrome. A common way to express that someone is suffering or struggling with insomnia is to use the phrase 불면증에 시달리다.
Meaning: sleeping disorder (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is composed of 불면 (insomnia/sleeplessness) and 증 (symptom/syndrome).
How does it change in a sentence?
To say someone 'has' insomnia, you use the verb 있다 (to exist/to have) with the subject marker, forming the phrase 불면증이 있다.
How do you pronounce it?
bulmyeonjeung
Did you know?
- While 불면증 is the clinical term, Koreans often use the expression 잠이 안 오다, which literally means 'sleep does not come', treating sleep as an external visitor rather than a bodily function.
- The phrase 불면증에 시달리다 uses the verb 시달리다, which usually describes being harassed, tormented or worn down by a person or a difficult situation.
- The character 증 in 불면증 is used in hundreds of Korean medical terms to denote a syndrome or condition, but it also appears in common words for 'symptoms' or 'signs', such as 증거 for 'evidence'.
Examples in context
- 톰은 불면증에 시달리고 있어.Tom is suffering from insomnia.Tatoeba #8362548 by Eunhee, translation #7010537 by Eccles17
- 저는 불면증으로 고생하고 있어요.I am suffering from insomnia.
- 그의 불면증은 심해요.His insomnia is severe.
- 너 왜 잠 못 이루는 거야?Why can't you sleep?
- 심한 불면증 때문에 고생하고 있어요.simhan bulmyeonjeung ttaemune gosaenghago isseoyo.I am suffering because of severe insomnia.
- 그는 불면증이 있는 것 같아요.geuneun bulmyeonjeungi inneun geot gatayo.It seems like he has insomnia.
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about their sleep patterns at a cafe.
- 지훈 Ji-hun지은 씨, 요즘 잠은 잘 자요?Jieun ssi, yojeum jameun jal jayo?Jieun, have you been sleeping well lately?
- 지은 Ji-eun아니요, 불면증이 생겨서 걱정이에요.Aniyo, bulmyeonjeungi saenggyeoseo geokjeongieyo.No, I'm worried because I developed insomnia.
- 지훈 Ji-hun불면증은 정말 힘들 텐데 어떡해요.Bulmyeonjeungeun jeongmal himdeul tende eotteokhaeyo.Insomnia must be really difficult, what should you do.
- 지은 Ji-eun병원에 가보려고 생각 중이에요.Byeongweone gaboryeogo saenggak jungieyo.I'm thinking about going to the hospital.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “insomnia” translations and entries 불면증, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
