fànkùn: 犯困 - To feel sleepy, Drowsy

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• Summary: Learn how to say you're feeling sleepy or drowsy in Chinese with the common term 犯困 (fànkùn). This page breaks down the meaning of fànkùn, explaining how it differs from being tired (累, lèi) and when to use it in everyday conversation, from a long meeting to a boring class. Discover practical examples and cultural insights to master this essential vocabulary for daily life in China.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): fànkùn
• Part of Speech: Verb-Object Compound (functions as a verb)
• HSK Level: HSK 4
• Concise Definition: To feel the onset of sleepiness; to become drowsy.
• In a Nutshell: 犯困 (fànkùn) isn't just being sleepy; it's the *process* of getting sleepy. It perfectly describes that involuntary wave of drowsiness that washes over you, often when you're bored, in a warm room, or after a big meal. Think of it as being “attacked by sleepiness.” It's a temporary state that might make you want to nod off, but it's different from the physical exhaustion of being “tired” (累, lèi).

• 犯 (fàn): While its most common meaning is “to commit a crime” or “to violate,” a key secondary meaning is “to have an attack of” or “to be overcome by.” This is seen in words like 犯病 (fànbìng), “to have a relapse of an illness.” In our term, it signifies an involuntary onset.
• 困 (kùn): This character is a pictogram of a tree (木) trapped inside a box (囗), symbolizing being trapped, restricted, or in a predicament. In modern Chinese, its most frequent meaning is “sleepy” or “drowsy.”
• How they combine: Literally, 犯困 (fànkùn) means “to have an attack of sleepiness.” The character 犯 (fàn) acts as the verb, capturing the sudden, involuntary nature of the feeling, while 困 (kùn) is the state you are entering. This is why it so accurately describes that feeling of your eyelids getting heavy against your will.

While 犯困 (fànkùn) might seem like a simple term, its usage touches upon a subtle but important cultural norm in China: the acceptance of the body's natural rhythms. In many Western, particularly American, work cultures, feeling drowsy in the afternoon is often seen as a problem to be “fixed” with caffeine or by “powering through.” It can be perceived as a lack of discipline or engagement. In China, however, feeling 犯困—especially after lunch—is widely accepted as a normal biological response. This leads to the prevalence of the 午睡 (wǔshuì), or the afternoon nap. In many schools, students are expected to nap at their desks for 30-60 minutes after lunch. It's also common in many traditional offices and state-owned enterprises for employees to take a short nap. Therefore, saying “我犯困了” (Wǒ fànkùn le) is not an admission of weakness or unprofessionalism. It's a simple statement of fact, a trigger for a culturally-sanctioned solution: taking a rest to restore one's energy (精神, jīngshen). This aligns with a broader cultural value of balance and working in harmony with one's body, rather than constantly fighting against it.

犯困 is an extremely common, informal term used in daily conversations. You will hear it and use it constantly.

• Informal & Conversational: It's the go-to word for expressing sleepiness among friends, family, and colleagues. You can use it as an observation, a complaint, or an excuse.
• Common Triggers: It's frequently used to describe drowsiness that is caused by external factors rather than a lack of sleep the night before.
  • After a Meal: “吃完午饭就犯困。” (Chī wán wǔfàn jiù fànkùn.) - “As soon as I finish lunch, I get sleepy.”
  • Boredom: “这个会太无聊了，听得我直犯困。” (Zhège huì tài wúliáo le, tīng de wǒ zhí fànkùn.) - “This meeting is so boring, listening to it is making me super drowsy.”
  • Environment: “春天天气一暖和，人就容易犯困。” (Chūntiān tiānqì yī nuǎnhuo, rén jiù róngyì fànkùn.) - “As soon as the weather gets warm in spring, people get sleepy easily.”
• Connotation: The word is neutral. It's a simple description of a physical state.

• Example 1:
  • 我一看书就犯困。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ yī kàn shū jiù fànkùn.
  • English: I get drowsy as soon as I start reading.
  • Analysis: This uses the common “一…就…” (yī…jiù…) structure, meaning “as soon as… then…” It highlights a cause-and-effect relationship, which is a perfect use case for 犯困.
• Example 2:
  • 这个会太无聊了，听得我直犯困。
  • Pinyin: Zhège huì tài wúliáo le, tīng de wǒ zhí fànkùn.
  • English: This meeting is so boring, listening to it is making me really drowsy.
  • Analysis: The word 直 (zhí) here acts as an adverb to intensify the feeling, meaning something like “continuously” or “to the point of.” It emphasizes that the boredom is directly causing the drowsiness.
• Example 3:
  • 你是不是犯困了？要不要去喝杯咖啡提提神？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ shì bu shì fànkùn le? Yào bu yào qù hē bēi kāfēi tí tí shén?
  • English: Are you getting sleepy? Do you want to go grab a coffee to wake yourself up?
  • Analysis: This shows how 犯困 is used in a question to observe someone else's state. 提神 (tí shén) is a great related word meaning “to refresh oneself” or “to perk up.”
• Example 4:
  • 我今天下午特别犯困，什么工作都做不了。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ jīntiān xiàwǔ tèbié fànkùn, shénme gōngzuò dōu zuò bu liǎo.
  • English: I was especially drowsy this afternoon and couldn't get any work done.
  • Analysis: This sentence uses 犯困 as a reason or excuse for a lack of productivity. It's a very natural and common thing to say.
• Example 5:
  • 昨天晚上没睡好，今天上课老是犯困。
  • Pinyin: Zuótiān wǎnshang méi shuì hǎo, jīntiān shàngkè lǎoshì fànkùn.
  • English: I didn't sleep well last night, so I kept getting drowsy in class today.
  • Analysis: 老是 (lǎoshì) means “always” or “constantly,” showing that the feeling of 犯困 was recurring throughout the class.
• Example 6:
  • 春天天气一暖和，人就容易犯困，这叫“春困”。
  • Pinyin: Chūntiān tiānqì yī nuǎnhuo, rén jiù róngyì fànkùn, zhè jiào “chūnkùn”.
  • English: As soon as the weather warms up in spring, people get drowsy easily; this is called “spring sleepiness.”
  • Analysis: This introduces the related cultural concept of 春困 (chūn kùn), a well-known phenomenon that is the specific type of 犯困 people feel in springtime.
• Example 7:
  • 不好意思，我有点儿犯困，可能需要休息五分钟。
  • Pinyin: Bù hǎoyìsi, wǒ yǒudiǎnr fànkùn, kěnéng xūyào xiūxi wǔ fēnzhōng.
  • English: Excuse me, I'm getting a little drowsy, I might need to rest for five minutes.
  • Analysis: A polite and common way to excuse yourself in an informal setting. “有点儿 (yǒudiǎnr)” softens the statement, making it sound less like a complaint.
• Example 8:
  • 我现在犯困得不行，眼睛都快睁不开了。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ xiànzài fànkùn de bùxíng, yǎnjīng dōu kuài zhēng bu kāi le.
  • English: I'm so drowsy right now I can't stand it, my eyes can barely stay open.
  • Analysis: The structure “…得不行” (…de bùxíng) is a strong intensifier meaning “extremely” or “unbearably.” This vividly describes a strong wave of sleepiness.
• Example 9:
  • 吃了感冒药之后，我一直犯困。
  • Pinyin: Chī le gǎnmào yào zhīhòu, wǒ yīzhí fànkùn.
  • English: After taking cold medicine, I've been feeling drowsy constantly.
  • Analysis: This highlights a common side effect of medication, another perfect context for using 犯困.
• Example 10:
  • 啊，好犯困啊！
  • Pinyin: Ā, hǎo fànkùn a!
  • English: Ugh, I'm so sleepy!
  • Analysis: A very common, simple exclamation you might say to yourself or post on social media. Here, 好 (hǎo) means “so” or “very.”

• `犯困 (fànkùn)` vs. `困 (kùn)`: This is the most important distinction.
  • 困 (kùn) is an adjective. It describes the state of being sleepy. You use it with 很 (hěn), 非常 (fēicháng), etc.
    • Correct: 我很困。 (Wǒ hěn kùn.) - I am very sleepy.
  • 犯困 (fànkùn) is a verb phrase. It describes the action or process of *getting* sleepy.
    • Correct: 我犯困了。 (Wǒ fànkùn le.) - I've gotten sleepy.
    • Incorrect: 我很犯困。 (Wǒ hěn fànkùn.) - While some native speakers say this colloquially, it's grammatically awkward. It's better to say “我好犯困” (Wǒ hǎo fànkùn) or “我特别犯困” (Wǒ tèbié fànkùn), where 好/特别 act as adverbs modifying the entire verb phrase.
• `犯困 (fànkùn)` vs. `累 (lèi)`: This is a huge pitfall for learners. They are not interchangeable.
  • 累 (lèi) means “tired” or “fatigued,” usually from physical or mental exertion.
  • 犯困 (fànkùn) means “drowsy” or “sleepy,” often from boredom or comfort, not exertion.
  • Example of difference: 跑完马拉松，你很累，但不一定犯困 (你可能很兴奋)。 (Pǎo wán mǎlāsōng, nǐ hěn lèi, dàn bù yīdìng fànkùn (nǐ kěnéng hěn xīngfèn).) - After running a marathon, you are very tired, but not necessarily drowsy (you might be very excited).
  • Example of difference: 在温暖的房间里听讲座，你不累，但很容易犯困。 (Zài wēnnuǎn de fángjiān lǐ tīng jiǎngzuò, nǐ bù lèi, dàn hěn róngyì fànkùn.) - Listening to a lecture in a warm room, you are not tired, but you get drowsy easily.

• 困 (kùn) - The adjective for “sleepy.” The core state that 犯困 describes the onset of.
• 累 (lèi) - A critical distinction. Means “tired” from exertion. You can be tired but not sleepy, and sleepy but not tired.
• 打瞌睡 (dǎ kēshuì) - The physical action of “dozing off” or “nodding off.” This is often the result of feeling 犯困.
• 想睡觉 (xiǎng shuìjiào) - “To want to sleep.” This implies a more conscious desire or intention to go to bed, whereas 犯困 is an involuntary feeling that can happen anytime.
• 午睡 (wǔshuì) - The “afternoon nap,” which is the most common cultural remedy for feeling 犯困 after lunch.
• 春困 (chūn kùn) - “Spring sleepiness.” A specific, seasonal type of 犯困 that is a common topic of conversation in the spring.
• 睡意 (shuìyì) - A more formal or literary noun for “sleepiness.” You might read it in a book, but you're more likely to say 犯困 in conversation.
• 没精神 (méi jīngshen) - “To have no energy; to be listless.” This is a broader feeling that often accompanies or results from being 犯困.