1.
to lie down, to sprawl
To lie down in a relaxed, casual manner, often on the floor, sofa, or grass.
ソファに寝転んだ。
I lay down on the sofa.
畳の上に寝転んだ。
I lay down on the tatami.
芝生の上に寝転んで空を見上げた。
I lay on the grass and looked up at the sky.
暑い日は部屋で寝転んで本を読むのが好きだ。
On hot days, I like lying down in my room reading books.
公園のベンチに寝転んで、木の葉の間から見える青い空をぼんやり眺めていた。
I was lying on a park bench, gazing absently at the blue sky visible through the leaves.
2.
to lounge, to laze around
To lie down in a leisurely way while relaxing.
猫がごろんと寝転んだ。
The cat rolled over.
犬が芝生の上で寝転んでいる。
The dog is rolling around on the grass.
布団の上で子供たちが寝転んで遊んでいる。
The children are rolling around playing on the futon.
赤ちゃんがベッドの上で楽しそうに寝転んでいた。
The baby was happily rolling over on the bed.
暖かい日差しの中で、子犬たちが砂の上をごろごろ寝転んで楽しそうに遊んでいた。
In the warm sunshine, the puppies were rolling around happily on the sand, playing together.
寝転ぶ is an intransitive verb (自動詞) meaning to lie down casually.
COMPOUND STRUCTURE:
- 寝る (to sleep/lie down) + 転ぶ (to roll/tumble) → to roll into a lying position
ASPECT (ている):
寝転んでいる indicates a state of lying down.
COMMON PATTERNS:
- ソファに寝転ぶ (lie on the sofa)
- 畳に寝転ぶ (lie on the tatami)
- 芝生に寝転ぶ (lie on the grass)
- 寝転んで本を読む (read while lying down)
VARIANT:
- 寝転がる: same meaning, alternative form
NUANCE:
Casual, relaxed lying down—not the formal act of going to bed (寝る). Implies a leisurely, comfortable position.
[Register: Casual to Neutral]