Translation guide
The English verb 'revive' covers bringing back to life, restoring energy, renewing interest, and reusing old things. Japanese uses different words depending on what is being revived and how.
The doctor revived the patient in cardiac arrest.
Literally 'make come back to life'. More general, can be used in non-medical contexts (e.g., magic, fantasy).
The wizard revived the dead.
Intransitive: 'to be revived' or 'come back to life'. Use this when the subject itself revives.
Nature revives in spring.
To make someone feel lively, energetic, or refreshed again after tiredness or illness.
Common phrase meaning 'make someone feel better/energetic'. Natural for everyday situations.
The hot soup revived her.
More formal, 'restore' or 'help recover'. Used for health or strength.
Loanword 'refresh'. Often used for mental refreshment or a change of pace.
The walk revived my spirits.
To bring back interest, popularity, or activity in something that had declined.
To revive an old practice, festival, or way of doing things.
To start using something again, such as an old idea, style, or object.
復活 (ふっかつ) is for abstract or organizational revival (trends, events, careers). 蘇生 (そせい) is strictly for medical/life revival. Don't use 蘇生 for a fashion trend.
Showa retro is being revived.
The paramedics revived the drowning victim.
English 'revive' is often used metaphorically. In Japanese, it's often more natural to use specific verbs like 回復する (recover), 元気になる (become energetic), or 再開する (resume).
The rain revived the wilting flowers.
Intransitive 生き返る is natural here.
Can we revive this old tradition?
Adequate sleep revives your strength.
The incident revived the debate.
Idiom: 'breathe life back into'. Used for businesses, projects, etc.
The new president revived the company.
They aim to revive traditional crafts.
They revived old furniture by reusing it.