寝押し (neoshi: pressing clothes by placing them under the bedding while one sleeps) to sleep + to press
寝化粧 (negeshō: removal of makeup before going to sleep)
to sleep + makeup (last 2 chars.)
The last two kanji break down as to change + to apply makeup.
寝耳 (nemimi: something heard while sleeping) to sleep + ear
If you hear news that you never expected to hear, you might compare the experience to sleeping and hearing something as unlikely as rushing water:
寝耳に水 (nemimi ni mizu: a bolt from the blue)
to sleep + ear + waterYou might then revert to English, comparing the experience to seeing a bolt of lightning in a clear, blue sky. Just be sure to keep your metaphors separate, because lightning and water don’t mix well.
寝違える (nechigaeru: to sleep in an awkward position and wake with a crick in the neck) to sleep + to make a mistake in performing an action
寝冷え (nebie: cold or chill caught while asleep) to sleep + to grow cold
転寝 (utatane: dozing (e.g., on the floor in one’s clothes, in the train))
to revolve + to sleep
Look what happens if you reverse the kanji:
寝転 (nekoro(bu): to lie down; to throw oneself down)
to sleep + to tumble downEverything changes: the yomi, the meaning, and even the breakdown of 転, according to Halpern.
寝煙草 (netabako: smoking in bed) to lie down + cigarettes
The last two kanji break down as smoke + grass and are ateji. I was relieved when a native speaker informed me that this didn’t mean “smoking while asleep.”
