half-asleep

IPA/hˈɑːfɐslˈiːp/
IPA/hˈæfɐslˈiːp/

half-asleep — 形容詞

1. in a state between sleeping and being awake, when tiredness makes it hard to thi

1.形容詞B1
釋義

半睡半醒

還沒完全清醒的狀態

in a state between sleeping and being awake, when tiredness makes it hard to think clearly or notice what is happening around you

例句

Nadia was still half-asleep when her alarm went off at six in the morning.

Nadia 早上六點鬧鐘響的時候，還處於半睡半醒的狀態。

be + still half-asleep + when-clause

Stefan answered the door in a half-asleep voice and forgot to ask who was calling.

Stefan 半睡半醒地應門，連問都沒問就讓人進來了。

in a half-asleep [noun] — describes voice or manner

同義詞
  • drowsy

    slightly more formal and often implies a tendency to fall asleep rather than being caught between sleeping and waking

  • groggy

    includes a sense of confusion or unsteadiness that 'half-asleep' does not always carry

  • sleepy

    broader term that can describe the feeling before falling asleep, not just the liminal state

反義詞
  • wide awake

    completely alert and aware, opposite end of the wakefulness spectrum

  • alert

    fully attentive and ready to respond

文法句型

be + half-asleep

still + half-asleep

half-asleep + noun

用法筆記

Often used with 'still' (still half-asleep) when describing someone who has just woken up. Can appear before a noun to describe a person's voice, manner, or state (a half-asleep daze, a half-asleep reply). More common in spoken than in formal written English.

常見錯誤

❌I was half-asleep during the movie because it was so boring.
✅I was half-asleep during the movie because I had not slept well.
💡'half-asleep' describes physical tiredness, not boredom. Use 'drowsy' or 'bored' for reactions caused by lack of interest.
❌I am half-asleep today because of my headache.
✅I feel half-asleep today because of my headache.
💡As a descriptive state, 'feel half-asleep' is more natural than 'am half-asleep' in many contexts, though 'am half-asleep' is also grammatically correct.