Translation guide
The act of becoming aware of something, understanding it clearly, or making something real. In Japanese, this concept is expressed through various verbs and nouns depending on the nuance.
Expressing the moment of suddenly understanding or noticing something.
The most common way to say 'realise' in the sense of noticing or becoming aware of something. Literally 'the spirit attaches'.
間違いに気がついた。
I realised my mistake.
彼が来ていないことに気がつかなかった。
I didn't realise he wasn't here.
Synonym of 気がつく, slightly more casual and common in spoken Japanese.
あとで間違いに気づいた。
I realised the mistake later.
To realise a deeper truth or spiritual insight. Often used in philosophical or religious contexts.
人生の無常を悟った。
I realised the impermanence of life.
Expressing that you have come to understand a fact or situation.
To understand or comprehend. Often used for realising the meaning or importance of something.
彼の気持ちを理解した。
I realised how he felt.
問題の深刻さを理解していなかった。
I didn't realise the seriousness of the problem.
To understand, often used for realising something intuitively or after explanation.
To recognise or acknowledge a fact, often used in formal contexts.
危険性を認識する必要がある。
We need to realise the danger.
Expressing the act of turning an idea or plan into reality.
To realise a plan, dream, or goal. The standard term for making something happen.
夢を実現した。
I realised my dream.
計画を実現するのは難しかった。
It was difficult to realise the plan.
To make a wish or dream come true. Often used for personal aspirations.
To embody or materialise an abstract concept. Formal and somewhat technical.
アイデアを具現化するプロセス。
The process of realising an idea.
Referring to the state or moment of becoming aware.
Awareness or realisation. Often used in self-help or business contexts.
その経験から多くの気づきを得た。
I gained many realisations from that experience.
Recognition or awareness. Formal noun for realising a fact.
問題の認識が遅れた。
Realisation of the problem was delayed.
Referring to the act of making something real.
Realisation or materialisation of a plan or dream.
夢の実現に向けて努力する。
I strive towards the realisation of my dream.
気がつく is for noticing something (e.g., a mistake). 理解する is for understanding a concept or feeling. 実現する is for making a plan or dream come true. Choose based on the nuance of 'realise'.
The loanword リアライズ is rarely used in natural Japanese. Stick to the native expressions above.
I finally realised.
長年の夢を叶えた。
I realised a long-held dream.