Japanese idioms about the body and sleep

Each Japanese idiom below comes with what its words literally say, what it means and how other languages put the same idea. To see every language at once, open the side-by-side page for the body and sleep.

  1. 泥のように眠る

    doro no yō ni nemuru

    lit. ‘to sleep like mud’

    To sleep very deeply and soundly, without waking up.

    Elsewhere

  2. 早起きは三文の徳

    hayaoki wa sanmon no toku

    lit. ‘getting up early is worth three coins’

    People who get up or get started early are the ones who get the best chances.

    Elsewhere

  3. 気が遠くなる

    ki ga tōku naru

    lit. ‘one’s spirit gets far away’

    To faint or pass out.

    Elsewhere

  4. 息を引き取る

    iki o hikitoru

    lit. ‘to take back your breath’

    To die (said in a casual, joking way).

    Elsewhere

Phrases in bold with a red marker are written up. The rest are waiting for their own page and a check by a native speaker.