Show pageOld revisionsBacklinksBack to top This page is read only. You can view the source, but not change it. Ask your administrator if you think this is wrong. ====== xiǎoshuì: 小睡 - Nap, Siesta, Doze ====== ===== Quick Summary ===== * **Keywords:** xiaoshui, 小睡, Chinese nap, take a nap in Chinese, siesta, doze, catnap, wushui, 午睡, Chinese work culture, Chinese nap culture, sleeping at work in China, student nap time * **Summary:** Learn about **小睡 (xiǎoshuì)**, the common Chinese word for a nap or siesta. This guide explores not just the translation, but the deep cultural significance of napping in China, from students sleeping on their desks to office workers taking a scheduled midday rest (**午睡, wǔshuì**). Discover why taking a **小睡** is considered a healthy and productive part of the day in Chinese culture, and learn how to use the term naturally in conversation. ===== Core Meaning ===== * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** xiǎo shuì * **Part of Speech:** Verb, Noun * **HSK Level:** N/A (but an extremely common and essential word) * **Concise Definition:** To take a short sleep; a nap. * **In a Nutshell:** **小睡 (xiǎoshuì)** is the general, everyday Chinese term for any short period of sleep that isn't your main nighttime sleep. It combines **小 (xiǎo)**, meaning "small," and **睡 (shuì)**, meaning "to sleep." It literally means "small sleep." It's a neutral and widely accepted concept, referring to the act of taking a short rest to recharge your batteries, whether it's for 10 minutes on the subway or an hour after lunch. ===== Character Breakdown ===== * **小 (xiǎo):** This character means "small" or "little." It's one of the most fundamental characters, originally depicting three small particles or grains of sand. * **睡 (shuì):** This character means "to sleep." It's a compound character composed of two parts: * **目 (mù):** The radical on the left, meaning "eye." * **垂 (chuí):** The character on the right, meaning "to droop" or "hang down." * **Combined Meaning:** When you put them together, **睡 (shuì)** paints a vivid picture of "drooping eyes," which is exactly what happens when you're sleepy. Therefore, **小睡 (xiǎo shuì)** logically and simply means a "small sleep"—a nap. ===== Cultural Context and Significance ===== In many Western cultures, napping during the day, especially at work or school, can be seen as a sign of laziness or a lack of discipline. In China, the opposite is often true. The **小睡**, particularly the midday nap known as **午睡 (wǔshuì)**, is a deeply ingrained and respected cultural practice. This is a stark contrast to the American "power-through" work ethic. In China, taking a short nap after lunch is viewed as a strategic and healthy way to restore **精力 (jīnglì) - energy** for the afternoon. This pragmatic approach is visible everywhere: * **In Schools:** It's mandatory for many primary and middle school students to have a nap time after lunch. You will see classrooms of children with their heads down on their desks, sleeping for 30-60 minutes. This is believed to improve concentration and academic performance in the afternoon. * **In Offices:** While not always official policy, it is socially acceptable and common for office workers to take a **小睡** at their desks during the lunch break. Many employees even keep foldable cots (**折叠床 zhédiéchuáng**) or special napping pillows for this purpose. Companies see it as an investment in afternoon productivity. This cultural norm stems from a traditional Chinese medicine belief in balancing **阴 (yīn)** and **阳 (yáng)** and following the body's natural rhythms. The post-lunch slump is seen not as a weakness to be fought with coffee, but as a natural signal to rest and recharge. ===== Practical Usage in Modern China ===== **小睡 (xiǎoshuì)** is a versatile word used in many everyday situations. It can function as both a verb ("to nap") and a noun ("a nap"). * **As a verb:** You can say **我想小睡一会儿 (Wǒ xiǎng xiǎoshuì yíhuìr)**, which means "I want to nap for a little while." The phrase is often followed by time duration words like **一会儿 (yíhuìr)**, **一下 (yíxià)**, or a specific length like **半个小时 (bàn ge xiǎoshí)**. * **As a noun:** You might hear someone say **一个小睡对身体好 (Yí ge xiǎoshuì duì shēntǐ hǎo)**, meaning "A short nap is good for your health." * **Informal Variants:** In casual conversation, people often say **眯一会儿 (mī yíhuìr)**, which literally means "to squint for a bit," or **打个盹儿 (dǎ ge dǔnr)**, "to have a doze." Another very common colloquialism is **睡个小觉 (shuì ge xiǎo jiào)**. The connotation is almost always neutral or positive, implying self-care and preparation for future tasks. ===== Example Sentences ===== * **Example 1:** * 我太累了，需要**小睡**一下。 * Pinyin: Wǒ tài lèi le, xūyào **xiǎoshuì** yíxià. * English: I'm too tired, I need to take a quick nap. * Analysis: A very common and natural way to express the need for a nap. **一下 (yíxià)** softens the verb and emphasizes the briefness of the action. * **Example 2:** * 他每天午饭后都习惯**小睡**半个小时。 * Pinyin: Tā měitiān wǔfàn hòu dōu xíguàn **xiǎoshuì** bàn ge xiǎoshí. * English: He is used to napping for half an hour after lunch every day. * Analysis: This sentence describes a routine, highlighting the cultural habit of the midday nap (**午睡, wǔshuì**). * **Example 3:** * 你中午**小睡**了吗？下午看起来很有精神。 * Pinyin: Nǐ zhōngwǔ **xiǎoshuì** le ma? Xiàwǔ kànqǐlái hěn yǒu jīngshén. * English: Did you take a nap at noon? You look very energetic this afternoon. * Analysis: This shows the perceived positive outcome of a **小睡**—restored energy (**精神 jīngshén**). * **Example 4:** * 别吵醒他，他正在沙发上**小睡**呢。 * Pinyin: Bié chǎoxǐng tā, tā zhèngzài shāfā shàng **xiǎoshuì** ne. * English: Don't wake him up, he's napping on the sofa. * Analysis: The structure **正在...呢 (zhèngzài...ne)** indicates an action in progress. * **Example 5:** * 一个短暂的**小睡**可以提高下午的工作效率。 * Pinyin: Yí ge duǎnzàn de **xiǎoshuì** kěyǐ tígāo xiàwǔ de gōngzuò xiàolǜ. * English: A short nap can improve work efficiency in the afternoon. * Analysis: Here, **小睡** is used as a noun, modified by the adjective **短暂的 (duǎnzàn de)**, meaning "brief." * **Example 6:** * 在长途火车上，我总是喜欢**小睡**一会儿。 * Pinyin: Zài chángtú huǒchē shàng, wǒ zǒngshì xǐhuān **xiǎoshuì** yíhuìr. * English: On a long-distance train, I always like to take a little nap. * Analysis: Shows the use of **小睡** in the context of travel. * **Example 7:** * 爷爷年纪大了，一天要**小睡**好几次。 * Pinyin: Yéye niánjì dà le, yì tiān yào **xiǎoshuì** hǎo jǐ cì. * English: Grandpa is old, he needs to nap several times a day. * Analysis: **好几次 (hǎo jǐ cì)** means "several times," showing how **小睡** can be a repeated action. * **Example 8:** * 很多学生会利用午休时间在课桌上趴着**小睡**。 * Pinyin: Hěn duō xuéshēng huì lìyòng wǔxiū shíjiān zài kèzhuō shàng pā zhe **xiǎoshuì**. * English: Many students use their lunch break to nap with their heads on their desks. * Analysis: **趴着 (pā zhe)** describes the physical posture of napping at a desk, which is a very common sight in Chinese schools. * **Example 9:** * 我只想**小睡**十分钟，结果睡了一个小时。 * Pinyin: Wǒ zhǐ xiǎng **xiǎoshuì** shí fēnzhōng, jiéguǒ shuì le yí ge xiǎoshí. * English: I only meant to nap for ten minutes, but I ended up sleeping for an hour. * Analysis: A relatable sentence showing the contrast between intention and result (**结果 jiéguǒ**). * **Example 10:** * //(Using a common colloquialism)// * 我去**眯一会儿**，有事叫我。 * Pinyin: Wǒ qù **mī yíhuìr**, yǒu shì jiào wǒ. * English: I'm going to catch a quick nap, call me if you need anything. * Analysis: **眯一会儿 (mī yíhuìr)** is a very common and informal substitute for **小睡一会儿**. It literally means "to squint for a bit," implying a very short, light nap. ===== Nuances and Common Mistakes ===== * **小睡 (xiǎoshuì) vs. 睡觉 (shuìjiào):** This is the most critical distinction for a learner. * **小睡 (xiǎoshuì):** A nap. A short sleep during the day. * **睡觉 (shuìjiào):** To sleep. The main, long sleep, usually at night. * //Incorrect:// 我晚上要小睡。 (Wǒ wǎnshang yào xiǎoshuì.) - This sounds very strange. You should say **我晚上要睡觉 (Wǒ wǎnshang yào shuìjiào)** for "I'm going to sleep at night." * //Correct:// 我中午要小睡一会儿。 (Wǒ zhōngwǔ yào xiǎoshuì yíhuìr.) - "I'm going to take a nap at noon." * **小睡 (xiǎoshuì) vs. 午睡 (wǔshuì):** * **小睡 (xiǎoshuì):** General term for a nap at any time. * **午睡 (wǔshuì):** Specifically a //midday// nap (午 wǔ means noon). * //Usage:// All **午睡** are a type of **小睡**, but a **小睡** you take at 4 PM is not a **午睡**. You can use **小睡** to refer to a midday nap, but **午睡** is more specific and very common. * **"False Friend" with "Dozing Off":** In English, "dozing off" often implies falling asleep unintentionally, perhaps out of boredom or exhaustion (e.g., "He dozed off during the meeting"). While **小睡** can be translated this way, it usually refers to an //intentional// act of resting. The Chinese equivalent for unintentionally dozing off might be closer to **打瞌睡 (dǎ kēshuì)**. ===== Related Terms and Concepts ===== * **[[午睡]] (wǔshuì):** The culturally significant midday nap. A specific type of **小睡**. * **[[睡觉]] (shuìjiào):** The general term for "to sleep," usually referring to the main nighttime sleep. The opposite of **小睡** in terms of duration and time. * **[[打盹儿]] (dǎdǔnr):** A very colloquial, often Northern, term for "to doze" or "to nap." A close synonym for **小睡**. * **[[眯一会儿]] (mī yíhuìr):** A highly common and informal phrase meaning "to rest one's eyes for a bit," used to mean taking a very short nap. * **[[休息]] (xiūxi):** To rest. Taking a **小睡** is one way to **休息**. * **[[困]] (kùn):** The adjective for "sleepy" or "drowsy." This is the feeling that prompts you to take a **小睡**. * **[[打瞌睡]] (dǎ kēshuì):** To doze off, nod off. This has a stronger connotation of unintentionally falling asleep, for example, in class or a meeting. * **[[精力]] (jīnglì):** Energy, vigor. The primary reason for taking a **小睡** is to restore this. * **[[趴]] (pā):** To lie on one's front; to lean over. Often used to describe the posture of napping at a desk: **趴着睡 (pā zhe shuì)**.