1.
to fall asleep; to go to sleep
A somewhat literary or gentle expression for falling asleep. More elegant than simply 寝る, often used in narrative, bedtime contexts, or when describing someone drifting off peacefully.
子どもが眠りについた。
The child fell asleep.
温かい布団の中で眠りにつく。
To fall asleep in a warm futon.
昨夜はなかなか眠りにつけなかった。
I couldn't fall asleep last night.
疲れていたので、横になるとすぐに眠りについた。
I was tired, so I fell asleep as soon as I lay down.
Composed of 眠り (sleep, as a noun) + に (particle) + つく (to settle into). Literally "to settle into sleep." The verb つく conjugates normally: 眠りについた (past), 眠りにつける (potential), 眠りにつけない (negative potential).
More refined than 寝る, which is the everyday word for sleeping or going to bed. 眠りにつく focuses specifically on the transition into sleep and has a softer, more literary tone.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- すぐに眠りにつく: to fall asleep right away
- なかなか眠りにつけない: to have trouble falling asleep
- 深い眠りにつく: to fall into a deep sleep
- 静かに眠りにつく: to fall asleep quietly
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 寝る: to sleep; to go to bed — the basic everyday word
- 寝つく: to fall asleep — similar meaning but more colloquial
- 眠る: to sleep — focuses on the state of being asleep rather than the transition