Japanese symbol for “nap”

昼寝

ひるね

Romaji: hirune

(afternoon) nap; sleeping during the day; siesta

In Japanese, nap is 昼寝, read ひるね (hirune).

Before using these characters for a tattoo, check them with a native speaker. Dictionary words often have several meanings, and the right choice depends on context.

Meanings

n, vi, vs (afternoon) nap; sleeping during the day; siesta

Written forms: 昼寝、昼寐. Readings: ひるね.

Kanji and stroke order

昼

daytime, noon

on: チュウ
kun: ひる

9 strokes · JLPT 3

寝

lie down, sleep, rest

on: シン
kun: ね.る、ね.かす、い.ぬ、みたまや

13 strokes · JLPT 2

Other Japanese words for “nap”

Word	Reading	Meaning
仮眠	かみん kamin	nap; doze
一睡	いっすい issui	wink of sleep; snooze; doze
一眠り	ひとねむり hitonemuri	nap; short sleep
午睡	ごすい gosui	nap; siesta
うたた寝	うたたね utatane	doze; nap; snooze

Related words

Words that share a kanji.

Word	Reading	Meaning
昼間	ひるま hiruma	daytime; during the day; time from sunrise until sunset
昼食	ちゅうしょく chuushoku	lunch; midday meal
お昼	おひる ohiru	lunch
昼夜	ちゅうや chuuya	day and night
昼休み	ひるやすみ hiruyasumi	lunch break; noon recess; noon rest period
寝る	ねる neru	to sleep (lying down)
寝室	しんしつ shinshitsu	bedroom
寝台	しんだい shindai	bed; couch