眠たい
0%
Log in to evaluate your pronunciation.
No feedback yet. Please speak to see your results.
Base i-adjective form ending in 『い』. Describes the feeling of wanting to sleep or being drowsy. Example: 『私は眠たいです』 (watashi wa nemutai desu, 'I am sleepy').
Theme
On a late-night train ride home, User and their friend Mika are talking about feeling tired after a long day.
眠たい
ねむたい
sleepy
People & IdentityEmotions & Personality
Memory Hook
Imagine feeling so sleepy that you can't keep your eyes open — you mutter 『眠たい』 (nemutai, 'sleepy'), which sounds like 'name a tie' as you drift off while trying to name your necktie. 'Name a tie' → 眠たい (nemutai, 'sleepy').
Cultural Note
In Japan, expressing tiredness or sleepiness is common in casual conversation, especially after long work hours or during late-night study sessions. 『眠たい』 (nemutai, 'sleepy') is often used among friends or family, and it's polite to apologize if you yawn in public, as it shows consideration for others.
Forms
Base: 眠たいBase i-adjective form ending in 『い』. Describes the feeling of wanting to sleep or being drowsy. Example: 『私は眠たいです』 (watashi wa nemutai desu, 'I am sleepy').
Negative: 眠たくないDrop 『い』 → add 『くない』 (kunai, negative) → 『眠たくない』 (nemutakunai, 'not sleepy').
Past: 眠たかったDrop 『い』 → add 『かった』 (katta, past) → 『眠たかった』 (nemutakatta, 'was sleepy').
Adverbial: 眠たくDrop 『い』 → add 『く』 (ku, adverbial) → 『眠たく』 (nemutaku).
Comparative: より眠たいComparative formed with modifier 『より』 (yori, 'more than') + base adjective.
Superlative: 一番眠たいSuperlative formed with 『一番』 (ichiban, 'number one / Most') + adjective.