睡 (shuì): To sleep. The radical is 目 (mù), meaning “eye,” combined with 垂 (chuí), which means “to droop” or “hang down.” Together, they paint a vivid picture of drooping eyelids, the very image of sleepiness.
不 (bù): A negative particle meaning “no” or “not.” It negates the possibility of the action's result.
着 (zháo): This is the key character. Here, it acts as a resultative complement, indicating the successful completion or attainment of an action. So, 睡着 (shuì zháo) means “to succeed in sleeping,” or more naturally, “to fall asleep.”
Putting them together, 睡-不-着 (shuì-bu-zháo) literally means “sleep-not-succeed.” This “Verb-不-Result” structure is a fundamental pattern in Chinese for expressing the inability to achieve a desired outcome.
While the inability to sleep is a universal human experience, discussing 睡不着 (shuì bu zháo) is a very common way to express underlying stress or anxiety in modern China. In a culture that often values stoicism, complaining about being unable to sleep can be a socially acceptable way to hint at deeper worries without having to state them directly. It's often linked to:
Academic Pressure: Students studying for the grueling gaokao (college entrance exam) frequently talk about being so stressed they 睡不着.
Work Pressure: The demanding work culture, sometimes called “996” (9 am to 9 pm, 6 days a week), is a major source of stress that leads to many professionals complaining they 睡不着.
Personal Worries: Concerns about family, finances, or relationships are common triggers.
Comparison to Western Concepts:
In English, we might say “I can't sleep” in a casual context. If the problem is chronic, we might say “I have insomnia.” Chinese makes a similar distinction.
睡不着 (shuì bu zháo): This is the common, everyday complaint, just like “I can't sleep.” It describes the feeling and the immediate experience.
失眠 (shīmián): This is the more formal, medical term, equivalent to “insomnia.” You would see 失眠 on a medical chart or use it when discussing a chronic condition with a doctor.
So, while you might tell a friend “我昨晚又睡不着了” (I couldn't sleep again last night), you would tell a doctor “我有失眠的问题” (I have an insomnia problem).
This phrase is extremely common in informal, daily conversation.
Expressing a Complaint: It's the most direct way to tell someone you had a bad night's sleep. It immediately elicits sympathy.
Signaling Worry: When someone says they 睡不着, the natural follow-up question is “Why? What are you thinking about?” It's an invitation to share one's worries.
Social Media Updates: It is very common to see young people post “睡不着” on WeChat Moments or Weibo late at night. It's a way to say “I'm awake and feeling restless/thoughtful, is anyone else up?”
The connotation is generally negative, as it describes a state of discomfort and frustration. It is almost exclusively used in informal settings.