睡眠薬(すいみんやく)

すいみんやく
noun
sleeping pill; sleep medication
1. sleeping pill; sleep medication; hypnotic
Medication taken to induce or maintain sleep. In Japan most types require a prescription.
睡眠薬(すいみんやく)を飲(の)んだ。
I took a sleeping pill.
医者(いしゃ)に弱(よわ)い睡眠薬(すいみんやく)を処方(しょほう)してもらった。
I had the doctor prescribe a mild sleeping pill.
睡眠薬(すいみんやく)に頼(たよ)りすぎると依存(いぞん)してしまう恐(おそ)れがある。
Relying too heavily on sleeping pills can lead to dependence.

Compound of 睡眠(すいみん) (sleep) + 薬(やく) (medicine). The everyday term for prescription or over-the-counter sleep aids.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 睡眠薬(すいみんやく)を飲(の)む: to take a sleeping pill
  • 睡眠薬(すいみんやく)を処方(しょほう)する: to prescribe sleeping pills
  • 睡眠薬(すいみんやく)に頼(たよ)る: to rely on sleeping pills
  • 強(つよ)い/弱(よわ)い睡眠薬(すいみんやく): strong/mild sleeping pills

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • 睡眠導入剤(すいみんどうにゅうざい): sleep-inducing drug — more clinical term, technically distinguished but often used interchangeably
  • 安定剤(あんていざい): tranquilizer — for anxiety rather than sleep, but sometimes confused
general
Added 2026.6.4 11:08
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