Translation guide
The English word 'awake' can be an adjective meaning 'not sleeping' or a verb meaning 'to stop sleeping' or 'to cause to stop sleeping'. Japanese uses different words for the state of being awake versus the action of waking up, and the verb forms differ for waking oneself versus waking someone else.
Are you still awake?
He is already awake.
Literally 'eyes are awake'. Emphasizes the state of being fully conscious and aware. Slightly more formal or descriptive.
I am often awake in the middle of the night.
Formal or medical term for being awake/conscious. Used in clinical contexts or philosophical discussions.
The patient is awake.
The action of waking up on one's own, without an external agent.
The standard verb for 'to wake up' or 'to get up'. Covers both waking and rising from bed.
I wake up at 6 every morning.
I woke up many times last night.
Literally 'eyes open/awaken'. Focuses on the moment of regaining consciousness, not necessarily getting out of bed.
Similar to 目が覚める but more literary or figurative. Can also mean 'to become aware' or 'to awaken (to a truth)'.
The action of waking someone else up.
The standard transitive verb for 'to wake someone up'. Used for waking a person from sleep.
Please wake me up at 7 tomorrow.
Don't wake the baby.
Literally 'make someone's eyes open'. More emphatic or forceful than 起こす. Can also be used figuratively.
It's hard to wake him up.
Being mentally awake, alert, or aware of something, not necessarily about sleep.
Means 'to be conscious' or 'to be aware'. Used for both medical consciousness and general awareness.
He is still awake/conscious.
I am awake to the danger.
Means 'to be vigilant' or 'to not let one's guard down'. Often used in the phrase 'stay awake/alert' in a figurative sense.
Stay awake/alert.
起きる (okiru) means both 'to wake up' and 'to get up'. 目が覚める (me ga sameru) only means 'to wake up' (regain consciousness). If you want to say 'I woke up but stayed in bed', use 目が覚めた but not 起きた.
I woke up but haven't gotten up yet.
起きる (okiru) is intransitive (I wake up). 起こす (okosu) is transitive (I wake someone up). Using the wrong one can change the meaning completely.
I wake up at 7.
大きな音で目が覚めた。
I woke up because of a loud noise.
彼は現実に目覚めた。
He awoke to reality.
I wake him up at 7.