寐 (mèi) - To sleep & to fall asleep

寐Tone 4

mèi ｜ 12 strokes ｜ radical:

伦妙

寐 · mèi

To sleep;

to fall asleep;

to be in a state of sleep.

To sleepto fall asleepto be in a state of sleep.

Usage highlights

Unable to sleepSleepless nightDream while sleepingSound asleepSleep and wakeDream of something constantly

Synonyms

  • 睡— to sleep (more common, casual)
  • 眠— to sleep (literary, poetic)

Antonyms

  • 醒— to wake up
  • 寤— to awaken from sleep

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He fell into a deep sleep (寐).
  • I was unable to sleep last night (夜不能寐).
  • The baby is sleeping soundly (酣寐).
  • She lay awake thinking (寤寐思之).

Collocations

  • Unable to sleep(不寐)
  • Sleepless night(夜不能寐)
  • Dream while sleeping(梦寐)
  • Sound asleep(酣寐)
  • Sleep and wake(寤寐)
  • Dream of something constantly(梦寐以求)

Idioms

  • Dream of something day and night(梦寐以求)
  • Unable to sleep at night(夜不能寐)
  • The state between waking and sleeping(寤寐之境)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • 寐 appears in classical Chinese texts describing states of consciousness and rest.
  • In traditional medicine, proper 寐 is considered essential for health and vitality.
  • The character is often used in literary contexts rather than everyday conversation.

FAQ