Usage note
失眠是指无法入睡或保持睡眠状态。
Shīmián shì zhǐ wúfǎ rùshuì huò bǎochí shuìmián zhuàngtài.
Insomnia refers to the inability to fall asleep or stay asleep.
Context note
这个词常用于描述健康问题。
Zhège cí chángyòng yú miáoshù jiànkāng wèntí.
This word is often used to describe health issues.
5 examples
他最近经常失眠。
tā zuì jìn jīng cháng shī mián。
He often has insomnia recently.
失眠让我白天很累。
shī mián ràng wǒ bái tiān hěn lèi。
Insomnia makes me very tired during the day.
医生建议治疗失眠。
yī shēng jiàn yì zhì liáo shī mián。
The doctor suggests treating insomnia.
失眠会影响健康。
shī mián huì yǐng xiǎng jiàn kāng。
Insomnia can affect health.
她因为失眠去看医生。
tā yīn wèi shī mián qù kàn yī shēng。
She went to see a doctor because of insomnia.
5 mini stories
小明有失眠，他晚上睡不着。
xiǎo míng yǒu shī mián， tā wǎn shàng shuì bù zhe。
Xiao Ming has insomnia, he can't sleep at night.
失眠让小红白天没精神。
shī mián ràng xiǎo hóng bái tiān méi jīng shén。
Insomnia makes Xiao Hong listless during the day.
妈妈教我如何对付失眠。
mā ma jiào wǒ rú hé duì fù shī mián。
Mom taught me how to deal with insomnia.
失眠时，我数羊睡觉。
shī mián shí， wǒ shù yáng shuì jiào。
When I have insomnia, I count sheep to sleep.
朋友说失眠可以喝热牛奶。
péng yǒu shuō shī mián kě yǐ hē rè niú nǎi。
A friend said that for insomnia, you can drink hot milk.
Mini dialogue
睡不着
A
你看起来没精神，怎么了？
Nǐ kàn qǐlái méi jīngshen, zěnme le?
You look tired, what's wrong?
B
我昨晚失眠了，很晚才睡着。
Wǒ zuó wǎn shīmián le, hěn wǎn cái shuìzháo.
I had insomnia last night, and fell asleep very late.
考试前
A
明天考试，你会失眠吗？
Míngtiān kǎoshì, nǐ huì shīmián ma?
Tomorrow is the exam, will you have insomnia?
B
有时候会失眠，但我会听音乐放松。
Yǒu shíhou huì shīmián, dàn wǒ huì tīng yīnyuè fàngsōng.
Sometimes I have insomnia, but I will listen to music to relax.
Related words and contrasts
similar
睡不着
shuì bu zháo
can't fall asleep
睡不着 is a colloquial way to say you can't sleep, similar to 失眠.
contrast
熬夜
áo yè
stay up late
熬夜 means staying up late by choice, while 失眠 is involuntary sleeplessness.
related
困
kùn
sleepy
困 is the feeling of sleepiness, often a result of 失眠.