1.
to be able to sleep; can sleep
The potential form of 眠る, indicating the ability to fall asleep or sleep well.
昨日はよく眠れた。
I was able to sleep well last night.
コーヒーを飲みすぎて眠れない。
I drank too much coffee and can't sleep.
静かな環境でないと眠れない人もいる。
Some people can't sleep unless the environment is quiet.
2.
sleeping; dormant; lying dormant
Used as an attributive adjective (連体形) meaning "sleeping" or "dormant," as in 眠れる森 (sleeping forest).
眠れる森の美女。
Sleeping Beauty (literally: the sleeping forest's beauty).
この地域には眠れる資源がまだたくさんある。
There are still many dormant resources in this region.
眠れる才能を目覚めさせるきっかけが必要だ。
A trigger is needed to awaken dormant talent.
USAGE:
Sense 1 is the potential form of 眠る and is very common in everyday speech, especially in the negative (眠れない — can't sleep).
Sense 2 is a literary usage where 眠れる functions as an attributive form meaning "sleeping" or "dormant." This is the classical Japanese 已然形 (realis form) used as a modifier, most famously seen in 眠れる森の美女 (Sleeping Beauty).
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- よく眠れる (to sleep well / to be able to sleep well)
- 眠れない夜 (a sleepless night)
- 眠れる森 (sleeping forest)
- 眠れる獅子 (sleeping lion — figurative for hidden potential)