寝る時間
neru jikan
In Japanese, 寝る時間 (neru jikan) is the phrase for "time to sleep".
寝る時間 refers to the specific time of day or the particular moment when one should go to bed.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the verb 寝る (neru), meaning "to sleep" and the noun 時間 (jikan), meaning "time".
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb 寝る is used in its dictionary form to function as an adjective modifying the noun 時間.
How do you pronounce it?
neru jikan
Did you know?
- While 寝る時間 describes the time to sleep, Japanese has a specific word 寝相 (ne-zō) to describe a person's 'sleeping posture' or the way they toss and turn in bed.
- In Japanese households, the act of preparing for 寝る時間 often involves 布団を敷く (futon o shiku), the ritual of unfolding and laying out a mattress on the floor.
- While 寝る時間 is grammatically correct, a child might more naturally hear their parents say ねんねの時間 (nenne no jikan) to make the idea of sleep sound much softer and cuter.
Examples in context
- 寝る時間よ。It's time to sleep.Tatoeba #145662 by bunbuku, translation #936657 by CM
- 寝る時間がたっぷりあればいいんだけどね。I wish I had enough time to sleep.Tatoeba #10278500 by bunbuku, translation #270961 by CK
- お時間ですので、ご就寝ください。It's time, so please go to bed.
- こんな時間だし、寝る時間だよ。It's already this late, time to sleep.
- そろそろ寝る時間だよ。sorosoro neru jikan da yo.It is about time to sleep.
Example conversation
A couple talking in their living room late at night.
- 大翔 Hirotoもう遅いし、そろそろ寝る時間だね。mou osoi shi, sorosoro neru jikan da ne.It's late, so it's about time to sleep.
- 美咲 Misakiそうだね、大翔。明日も早いし。sou da ne, hiroto. ashita mo hayai shi.You're right, Hiroto. I have an early start tomorrow too.
- 大翔 Hirotoじゃあ、おやすみ。jaa, oyasumi.Well, good night.
- 美咲 Misakiおやすみなさい。oyasuminasai.Good night.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
