1.
drowsiness; sleepiness; the irresistible urge to sleep
An overwhelming feeling of drowsiness that is difficult to fight. Literally the "sleep demon" — personifying sleepiness as a force that attacks.
睡魔に襲われた。
I was overcome by drowsiness.
午後の会議中に睡魔と闘った。
I fought off drowsiness during the afternoon meeting.
昼食後はいつも睡魔に襲われるので、コーヒーを飲むようにしている。
I always get drowsy after lunch, so I make sure to drink coffee.
睡魔 literally means "sleep demon" (睡 = sleep + 魔 = demon). It personifies drowsiness as an external force that attacks a person, similar to the English expression "the sandman."
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 睡魔に襲われる (to be overcome by drowsiness)
- 睡魔と闘う (to fight off drowsiness)
- 睡魔に負ける (to give in to drowsiness)
- 睡魔が襲う (drowsiness attacks)
USAGE NOTES:
This word is commonly used in everyday conversation, often with a touch of humor. The most frequent pattern is 睡魔に襲われる — being "attacked" by the sleep demon. It vividly expresses the feeling of struggling against overwhelming sleepiness, especially during work or study.