眠い
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Base i-adjective form ending in 『い』. Describes the feeling of needing sleep or being tired.
Theme
Two friends, Ken and User, are studying late at a café for an upcoming exam. Ken notices User looking tired and starts a conversation about sleepiness.
眠い
ねむい
sleepy / drowsy
People & IdentityEmotions & Personality
Memory Hook
Imagine feeling so sleepy your eyes are heavy. You yawn and say, 'Nee, me!' — it sounds like 『眠い』 (nemui, 'sleepy'). 'Nee-me' → 眠い.
Cultural Note
In Japan, it's common to express sleepiness openly, especially in casual settings. People might say 『眠いです』 (nemui desu, 'I am sleepy') at work or school, often as a light-hearted complaint or to explain tiredness.
Forms
Base: 眠いBase i-adjective form ending in 『い』. Describes the feeling of needing sleep or being tired.
Negative: 眠くないDrop 『い』 → add 『くない』 (kunai, negative) → 『眠くない』 (nemukunai).
Past: 眠かったDrop 『い』 → add 『かった』 (katta, past) → 『眠かった』 (nemukatta).
Adverbial: 眠くDrop 『い』 → add 『く』 (ku, adverbial) → 『眠く』 (nemuku).
Comparative: より眠いComparative formed with modifier 『より』 (yori, 'more than') + base adjective.
Superlative: 一番眠いSuperlative formed with 『一番』 (ichiban, 'number one / Most') + adjective.