寢

A phono-semantic compound:

宀 (roof; house) — semantic component, indicates an indoor, domestic context

侵 (to invade) — phonetic component, supplies the sound (chim / qǐn)

Historical forms and character development

Early form 寑 (U+5BD1) recorded in the Shuowen Jiezi, now treated as a variant character:

宀 (house)

侵 (phonetic)

Even earlier forms did not contain 侵, but instead used 帚 (broom).

The early structure is commonly explained as “cleaning the house and resting.”

This reflects the idea of preparing a dwelling for rest, leading naturally to the meaning “to sleep.”

In the modern standard form 寢, the 人 element of 侵 was replaced with 爿.

爿 is traditionally interpreted as a bed, couch, or sleeping platform. This reinforces the semantic field of lying down and resting.

Related variant character 㝲 (U+3772), recorded in Shuowen Jiezi as a separate character:

宀 (house)

疒 (illness)

夢 (dream)

帚 (broom)

Explained as “lying down due to illness”.

However, the Kangxi Dictionary regarded this distinction as unnecessary and treated 㝲 as a variant of 寢.

Semantic evolution:

- resting inside a house

- lying down on a bed

- sleeping

- sleeping quarters or inner chambers

- cessation or suspension (figurative)

취침 (就寢) — going to bed

침실 (寢室) — bedroom

침전 (寢殿) — royal sleeping hall

寢 has strong associations with:

- privacy

- inner space

- ritual rest, especially in royal or aristocratic contexts

In premodern East Asia, sleeping quarters were symbolically important, often separated from public or administrative spaces.

In classical texts, 寢 often refers to:

- royal sleeping quarters

- private inner rooms

- nighttime rest

Examples of common compounds:

寢室 — sleeping room

就寢 — to go to bed

寢殿 — royal bedchamber

Related characters:

眠 — to sleep (eye-focused nuance)

睡 — to sleep deeply

宿 — to lodge; stay overnight

臥 — to lie down