How to Say ‘Lack of sleep’ in Japanese
寝不足
ne busoku
[neh FOO-soh-koo]
💬 Usage Tip: 不足 means "shortage" and attaches to nouns: 運動不足 (undō-busoku) "lack of exercise". Notice the sound shifts to (busoku).
Phrase Breakdown
寝
ne
[neh]
sleep
Stem of 寝る, 'to sleep; to lie down'.
早く寝てください。
Please go to sleep early.
不足
busoku
[FOO-soh-koo]
lack; shortage
Not enough of something; with 寝 it means lack of sleep.
運動不足です。
I don't get enough exercise.
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