寐

mèi

宀 + 未 + 爿

Definitions

mèi to sleep soundly

Etymology

Originally depicts a person (人) sleeping on a bed (爿) inside a house (宀). Later written into a phonosemantic compound. 𪧇 represents the meaning and 未 represents the sound.

About

寐 originally depicted a person (人) sleeping on a bed (爿) inside a house (宀). Over time, it evolved into a phonosemantic compound in which 𪧇 (combining 宀 and 爿) conveys the meaning of sleep, and 未 supplies the sound. Unlike everyday words for sleep, 寐 is formal and literary, appearing in poetry and refined idioms to evoke slumber or sleeplessness.

Etymology Hide

Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

他夜晚难以入寐。

tā yè wǎn nán yǐ rù mèi

He finds it hard to fall asleep at night.

她在梦寐里微笑。

tā zài mèng mèi lǐ wēi xiào

She smiles in her sleep.

婴儿安寐在摇篮中。

yīng ér ān mèi zài yáo lán zhōng

The baby sleeps peacefully in the cradle.

因为噪音他无法入寐。

yīn wèi zào yīn tā wú fǎ rù mèi

Because of the noise, he cannot fall asleep.

尽管白天很累晚上他却难以入寐。

jǐn guǎn bái tiān hěn lèi wǎn shàng tā què nán yǐ rù mèi

Even though he is tired during the day, he finds it hard to fall asleep at night.

月光下她静寐如婴儿。

yuè guāng xià tā jìng mèi rú yīng ér

Under the moonlight, she sleeps as peacefully as a baby.

在那些孤独的夜晚他常因忧虑而无法入寐。

zài nà xiē gū dú de yè wǎn tā cháng yīn yōu lǜ ér wú fǎ rù mèi

In those lonely nights, he often cannot fall asleep due to worry.

唯有在深沉的梦寐中他才能暂时忘却现实的烦恼。

wéi yǒu zài shēn chén de mèng mèi zhōng tā cái néng zàn shí wàng què xiàn shí de fán nǎo

Only in deep sleep can he temporarily forget the troubles of reality.

Related Characters

Component: 宀

Component: 未

Component: 爿

寐