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.
Describing the state of being awake, conscious, or not asleep.
The most common way to say 'I am awake' or 'he is awake'. Literally 'is up/risen'. Use this for the state of being awake.
まだ起きているの？
Are you still awake?
彼はもう起きている。
He is already awake.
Literally 'eyes are awake'. Emphasizes the state of being fully conscious and aware. Slightly more formal or descriptive.
夜中に目が覚めていることが多い。
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.
患者は覚醒している。
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.
毎朝6時に起きる。
I wake up at 6 every morning.
昨夜は何度も起きた。
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.
明日7時に起こしてください。
Please wake me up at 7 tomorrow.
赤ちゃんを起こさないで。
Don't wake the baby.
Literally 'make someone's eyes open'. More emphatic or forceful than 起こす. Can also be used figuratively.
彼を目を覚まさせるのは大変だ。
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.
彼はまだ意識がある。
He is still awake/conscious.
危険に意識がある。
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.
油断しないでください。
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.
目が覚めたけど、まだ起きていない。
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.
私は7時に起きる。
I wake up at 7.
私は彼を7時に起こす。
I wake him 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.