睡着

• Pinyin: shuì zháo
• Hanzi breakdown: 睡 = 目 (eye) + 垂 (to droop), meaning to sleep; 着 = resultative complement (zháo), indicating achievement of the action

Meaning

To fall asleep; to have fallen asleep.

A resultative verb compound indicating the successful transition from wakefulness to sleep. The 着 here is a resultative complement (zháo) meaning the action was achieved. Distinct from 睡觉 (to sleep, the general activity).

Examples

1. 宝宝终于睡着了，我们轻点说话。 The baby has finally fallen asleep; let's speak more quietly.
2. 他看书看到一半就睡着了。 He fell asleep halfway through reading his book.
3. 昨天晚上我很晚才睡着。 I didn't fall asleep until very late last night.

Usage Guide

Context: everyday, health

Tone: casual

Do Say

• 孩子已经睡着了，别吵他。(The child has fallen asleep; don't disturb him.)
• 我昨晚怎么也睡不着。(I couldn't fall asleep last night no matter what.)

Don't Say

• 我每天八点睡着觉。(Don't combine 睡着 with 觉 — 睡着 already means to fall asleep. Say 八点睡觉 for the routine, or 八点就睡着了 for falling asleep.)

Origin & History

Compound of 睡 (to sleep) and 着 (resultative complement indicating achievement), meaning sleep has been successfully entered.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal