睡魔(すいま)

すいま
noun
drowsiness; the urge to sleep
health
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(すいま)に襲(おそ)われた。
I was overcome by drowsiness.
午後(ごご)の会議中(かいぎちゅう)に睡魔(すいま)と闘(たたか)った。
I fought off drowsiness during the afternoon meeting.
昼食後(ちゅうしょくご)はいつも睡魔(すいま)に襲(おそ)われるので、コーヒーを飲(の)むようにしている。
I always get drowsy after lunch, so I make sure to drink coffee.

睡魔(すいま) literally means "sleep demon" (睡(すい), sleep + 魔(ま), demon). It treats drowsiness as an outside force that attacks you, a little like "the sandman" in English. Common in everyday talk, often with a touch of humor, about fighting sleep at work or while studying.

Common collocations

general
Added 2026.3.4 14:31 · Revised 2026.10.13 21:45
14500/14896_suima