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For Life
2006.05.08(Review of 2000.12.09 edition)

Hello! We're excited to be back here with you after the long holiday! It's going to be fun - you can count on it!

The theme for the week ... (drum roll, please!) ... “Sleep”! Why sleep, you ask? Well, why not? After all, it's how we spend a third of our lives!

Today's LessonCATEGORY: 間違えやすいボキャブラリー
ASLEEP / FALL ASLEEP   眠って/眠りにつく

Explanation

  • To be asleep is to be sleeping.

    To fall asleep is to start sleeping.

    Be Careful! We sometimes say “get to sleep” to mean fall asleep. But we usually do NOT say “get asleep”.
  • be asleep は、眠っている状態をさします。

    fall asleep は、眠りにつく、という意味です。

    注意:fall asleep の意味で、“get to sleep” という表現を使うこともありますが、通常、“get asleep” とはいいません。

examples

  1. Be quiet! The baby is asleep.
  2. Jill's taking a very long nap, isn't she? She has been asleep for almost four hours now.
  3. (two passengers on an airplane)
    a: Where are we?
    b: We're at Narita Airport. We landed while you were asleep.
  4. I can fall asleep very quickly - usually in just a couple of minutes after going to bed.
  5. Some people count sheep when they have trouble falling asleep.

英会話レッスンWe hope you didn't fall asleep while reading today's edition! Enjoy the day!