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. ====== shuìjiào: 睡觉 - to Sleep ====== ===== Quick Summary ===== * **Keywords:** shuijiao, 睡觉, sleep in Chinese, how to say sleep in Chinese, Chinese verb for sleep, go to bed Chinese, shuì jiào, Chinese sleep, learn Chinese sleep, HSK 1 verb * **Summary:** Learn the essential Chinese verb "睡觉" (shuìjiào), which means "to sleep" or "to go to bed." This comprehensive guide breaks down the characters, explains the crucial cultural importance of napping (午睡), and provides 10 practical example sentences. Discover the nuances, common mistakes (like how to use it as a separable verb), and related terms to master this fundamental HSK 1 word and sound like a native speaker. ===== Core Meaning ===== * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** shuìjiào * **Part of Speech:** Verb (Separable) * **HSK Level:** HSK 1 * **Concise Definition:** To engage in the act of sleeping; to go to bed. * **In a Nutshell:** "睡觉" (shuìjiào) is the most common, everyday word for "to sleep" in Mandarin Chinese. It's a foundational verb you'll use daily, just like "to eat" (吃饭 chīfàn). Think of it as the general-purpose term for the entire action, from getting into bed to waking up. It's also a great introduction to a special type of Chinese verb called a "separable verb," where the two characters can sometimes be split apart. ===== Character Breakdown ===== * **睡 (shuì):** This character visually represents the act of sleeping. It's composed of the radical **目 (mù)**, meaning "eye," and the phonetic component **垂 (chuí)**, which means "to droop" or "hang down." Together, they create a vivid picture of "drooping eyes"—the perfect image for being sleepy or asleep. * **觉 (jiào):** In this context, "觉" acts as a noun meaning "a sleep." Its original meaning is closer to "to perceive" or "to awaken." When combined with 睡 (the verb "to sleep"), it forms the complete verb-object phrase 睡觉, which literally means "to sleep a sleep." This structure (verb + noun object) is very common in Chinese and is key to understanding how to use the word correctly. ===== Cultural Context and Significance ===== While sleeping is a universal human need, the attitude towards napping highlights a notable cultural difference. In China, the **午睡 (wǔshuì)**, or midday nap, is a widespread and highly valued practice. Unlike in many Western corporate cultures where napping during work hours might be seen as unprofessional or lazy, in China it's considered essential for health and productivity. It's common to see office workers taking a nap at their desks after lunch, and many schools have a designated nap time for students. This practice is rooted in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), which emphasizes balancing //yin// and //yang// and following the body's natural rhythms. The post-lunch dip in energy is seen not as something to be "powered through" with coffee, but as a natural signal to rest and recharge. Therefore, asking a colleague "你午睡了吗?" (Nǐ wǔshuì le ma? - "Did you take your nap?") is a normal, friendly question, whereas it might be an odd or overly personal question to ask in a typical American office. This acceptance of rest as a public and necessary part of the day is a key cultural aspect related to 睡觉. ===== Practical Usage in Modern China ===== "睡觉" is a neutral, all-purpose term used in virtually any informal or semi-formal context. * **Telling someone your plans:** You'll use it to say you're going to bed. (e.g., "我太困了，要去睡觉了。" - Wǒ tài kùn le, yào qù shuìjiào le. - "I'm so tired, I'm going to sleep.") * **Asking about routines:** It's the standard way to ask about someone's sleep schedule. (e.g., "你一般几点睡觉?" - Nǐ yìbān jǐ diǎn shuìjiào? - "What time do you usually go to bed?") * **Expressing wishes:** The phrase "睡个好觉" (shuì ge hǎo jiào - "sleep a good sleep") is a common way to say "sleep well." It's used constantly in daily conversation, texting, and social media among friends, family, and colleagues. ===== Example Sentences ===== * **Example 1:** * 我每天晚上十一点**睡觉**。 * Pinyin: Wǒ měitiān wǎnshang shíyī diǎn **shuìjiào**. * English: I go to bed at 11 o'clock every night. * Analysis: A simple statement about a daily routine. This is one of the most common ways you'll use the word. * **Example 2:** * 你为什么这么晚还不**睡觉**？ * Pinyin: Nǐ wèishénme zhème wǎn hái bù **shuìjiào**? * English: Why are you still not asleep this late? * Analysis: A common question, often used to show concern for someone staying up too late. * **Example 3:** * 宝宝正在**睡觉**，请小声一点。 * Pinyin: Bǎobao zhèngzài **shuìjiào**, qǐng xiǎo shēng yìdiǎn. * English: The baby is sleeping, please be a little quieter. * Analysis: The structure "正在 + verb" indicates an action in progress, equivalent to the "-ing" form in English. * **Example 4:** * 昨天晚上我**睡**了一个好**觉**。 * Pinyin: Zuótiān wǎnshang wǒ **shuì** le yí ge hǎo **jiào**. * English: I had a good sleep last night. * Analysis: This is a perfect example of a separable verb. The descriptor "一个好" (a good one) is inserted between "睡" and "觉". You cannot say "我睡觉了一个好". * **Example 5:** * 太晚了，我得去**睡觉**了。 * Pinyin: Tài wǎn le, wǒ děi qù **shuìjiào** le. * English: It's too late, I have to go to sleep. * Analysis: "得" (děi) means "must" or "have to," expressing necessity. The "了" (le) at the end indicates a change of state (I wasn't going to bed, but now I am). * **Example 6:** * 他吃完药就去**睡觉**了。 * Pinyin: Tā chī wán yào jiù qù **shuìjiào** le. * English: He went to sleep right after taking his medicine. * Analysis: "就" (jiù) is used here to connect two actions that happen in quick succession. * **Example 7:** * 周末我喜欢**睡**懒**觉**。 * Pinyin: Zhōumò wǒ xǐhuān **shuì** lǎn**jiào**. * English: On weekends, I like to sleep in. * Analysis: "睡懒觉" (shuì lǎnjiào) is a fixed phrase meaning "to sleep in" (literally "sleep a lazy sleep"). It's another example of separating 睡 and 觉. * **Example 8:** * 祝你**睡**个好**觉**！ * Pinyin: Zhù nǐ **shuì** ge hǎo **jiào**! * English: Hope you sleep well! / Sleep well! * Analysis: A common and warm way to wish someone a good night. Notice the separable structure again. "个" (ge) is a measure word for "觉" (a sleep). * **Example 9:** * 你**睡**了多长时间的**觉**？ * Pinyin: Nǐ **shuì** le duō cháng shíjiān de **jiào**? * English: How long did you sleep? * Analysis: To ask about the duration of sleep, you must separate the verb. The duration "多长时间" (duō cháng shíjiān - "how long a time") is placed in the middle. * **Example 10:** * 我昨天没**睡觉**，因为我需要工作。 * Pinyin: Wǒ zuótiān méi **shuìjiào**, yīnwèi wǒ xūyào gōngzuò. * English: I didn't sleep yesterday because I needed to work. * Analysis: To negate a past action, use "没" (méi) or "没有" (méiyǒu). In this case, the verb remains whole. ===== Nuances and Common Mistakes ===== The most significant pitfall for learners is understanding that **睡觉 (shuìjiào) is a separable verb**. This means it's a verb-object compound that can be split to insert other words. * **Common Mistake:** Adding descriptors or complements after the full word "睡觉". * **Incorrect:** 我睡觉了八个小时。 (Wǒ shuìjiào le bā ge xiǎoshí.) * **Correct:** 我**睡**了八个小时的**觉**。 (Wǒ **shuì** le bā ge xiǎoshí de **jiào**.) * **Reason:** The duration (八个小时 - eight hours) must be inserted between the verb (睡) and the object (觉). * **"False Friend" Distinction: 睡觉 (shuìjiào) vs. 睡着 (shuìzháo)** * **睡觉 (shuìjiào):** Refers to the //action// or //process// of sleeping. It describes going to bed and the general state of being asleep. * **睡着 (shuìzháo):** Refers to the //result// of falling asleep. It's a resultative complement that means you have successfully entered the state of sleep. * **Example to illustrate the difference:** * 他晚上十点就**睡觉**了，但是半夜才**睡着**。 * Tā wǎnshang shí diǎn jiù **shuìjiào** le, dànshì bànyè cái **shuìzháo**. * He //went to bed// (睡觉) at 10 PM, but he didn't //fall asleep// (睡着) until midnight. Using "睡觉" when you mean "fall asleep" is a very common beginner error. ===== Related Terms and Concepts ===== * [[起床]] (qǐchuáng) - To get up, to get out of bed. The direct antonym of going to bed. * [[睡着]] (shuìzháo) - To fall asleep. The resultative state of successfully starting to sleep. * [[失眠]] (shīmián) - To suffer from insomnia. The inability to sleep. * [[熬夜]] (áoyè) - To stay up late, to pull an all-nighter. The opposite action of going to bed early. * [[午睡]] (wǔshuì) - Midday nap, siesta. A culturally significant type of sleep. * [[打瞌睡]] (dǎ kēshuì) - To doze off, to nod off. Describes unintentionally falling asleep for a short time, often while sitting up. * [[睡懒觉]] (shuì lǎnjiào) - To sleep in. A common colloquial phrase using the separable nature of 睡觉. * [[做梦]] (zuò mèng) - To dream. An activity that happens while you are 睡觉. * [[困]] (kùn) - Sleepy, tired. The adjective describing the feeling you have before you 睡觉.