Definition
打瞌睡 is a separable verb-object compound (离合词) meaning 'to doze off' — to unintentionally fall asleep for a short time, usually while sitting. The noun 瞌睡 ('sleepiness') can separate from 打 ('to do') to insert measure words, duration, or aspects, like 打了一个瞌睡 ('dozed off once') or 打起瞌睡来 ('start dozing off'). You can also modify the noun: 打瞌睡 is more specific than 睡觉 ('to sleep') — it's a brief, involuntary nap.
v.o.
to doze offto nod off
Examples
- 打瞌睡，。Shàngkè shí búyào dǎ kē shuì, rènzhēn tīngjiǎng.Don't doze off in class; listen carefully.
- ，。Tā zuówǎn méi shuì hǎo, jīntiān kāihuì shí dǎ le yí gè kēshuì.He didn't sleep well last night, so he dozed off once during today's meeting.
- ，。Tài kùn le, wǒ zuò zài shāfā shàng kàn diànshì jiù dǎ qǐ kēshuì lái le.I was so sleepy that I started dozing off while sitting on the sofa watching TV.
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