Additional information about 寐
說文解字: 【寐】，臥也。 〔小徐本奪「臥也」二字。〕 从 㝱 省、未聲。 【蜜二切】
- Criteria
- SLEEP
1. Wò 臥 (ant. qǐ 起 "get up") is often used as a very general term referring to any form of sleep or rest whatsoever, but specifically the word does also refer to taking a brief nap, typically leaning on an object like a low table.
2. Mèi 寐 (ant. jué 覺 "wake up") is to fall fast asleep.
3. Qǐn 寢 (ant. xǐng 醒 "be wide awake") is to go to bed (typically in a designated bedroom) in order to rest or sleep, and the word does not indicate to what extent one actually does fall asleep or merely rests.
4. Mián 眠 refers to the action of closing one's eyes in order to fall asleep anywhere, at any time, and in any position.
5. Shuì 睡 (ant. wù 悟 "wake up") refers specifically to falling asleep, typically not in bed, and for a short time, in ancient Chinese.
6. Zhé 蟄 is to hibernate.
- WAKE UP
1. The current general word for waking up is wù 寤 (ant. mèi 寐 "fall fast asleep").
2. Jué 覺 (ant. meng 夢 "be deep asleep") refers to waking up, often after a dream.
3. Xīng 興 (ant. wò 臥 "sleep") refer to rising in the morning.
NB: Xǐng 醒 "wake up" is post-Han (TANG). In pre-Han times the word means "sober up".