在睡觉
zài shuìjiào
The English word 'sleeping' is translated into Mandarin as 在睡觉 (zài shuìjiào).
Meaning: used for sleep, used to produce sleep (adj)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the aspect particle 在, meaning 'at' or 'in the process of' and the verb 睡觉, meaning 'to sleep'.
How does it change in a sentence?
While 在睡觉 describes the continuous state of sleeping, the phrase 睡着了 (shuìzháo le) is used to describe the transition of falling asleep.
How do you pronounce it?
zài shuìjiào
Did you know?
- To describe someone who is a 'heavy sleeper', Mandarin uses the phrase 睡得死 (shuì de sǐ), which literally translates to 'sleeping to death'.
- The word for sleep 睡觉 is actually a verb-object phrase. 睡 means 'to sleep' and 觉 means 'sleep' as a noun, so you are literally 'sleeping a sleep'.
- Mandarin has a specific term 打盹 (dǎdǔn) for 'dozing' or 'napping'. It uses the verb 打 (to hit), treating a brief sleep as something you 'strike' or 'do'.
Examples in context
- 桌上的猫在睡觉。The cat on the table is sleeping.This sentence is useful for describing the cat on the table using 在睡觉.Tatoeba #13946997 by jan_OkulaJu, translation #39595 by CK
- 汤姆说玛丽在睡觉。Tom said Mary was sleeping.This sentence is useful for reporting that Mary was sleeping using 在睡觉.Tatoeba #9961389 by GlossaMatik, translation #2643915 by CK
- 我不能吵，宝宝在睡觉。I cannot make noise. The baby is sleeping.This sentence is useful for explaining why one should not make noise because the baby is sleeping using 在睡觉.Tatoeba #2782522 by GlossaMatik, translation #1725219 by Amastan
- 我每晚十点睡觉。I go to sleep at 10 o'clock every night.
- 他每天午后都会小睡一会儿。He takes a short nap every afternoon.
- 他睡得很香。He sleeps soundly.
- 我没睡好，所以有点困。I didn't sleep well, so I feel a bit tired.
- 12 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Xinyi is looking for Haoran in the bedroom.
- 欣怡 Xinyi浩然，你在睡觉吗？Hào rán, nǐ zài shuì jiào ma?Haoran, are you sleeping?
- 浩然 Haoran我没在睡觉，我只是在想事情。Wǒ méi zài shuì jiào, wǒ zhǐ shì zài xiǎng shì qíng.I'm not sleeping, I'm just thinking about things.
- 欣怡 Xinyi我看你闭着眼，以为你在睡觉。Wǒ kàn nǐ bì zhe yǎn, yǐ wéi nǐ zài shuì jiào.I saw your eyes closed and thought you were sleeping.
- 浩然 Haoran我现在准备去睡觉了。Wǒ xiàn zài zhǔn bèi qù shuì jiào le.I am getting ready to go to sleep now.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
