Translation guide
The English verb "rouse" covers waking someone from sleep, stirring emotions, and provoking action. Japanese uses different words depending on the nuance.
To cause someone to stop sleeping, often by calling or shaking them.
The most common and general word for waking someone up. Can be used for any method.
Please wake me up at 7 a.m.
Don't wake him up.
Literally 'make someone open their eyes'. More forceful or deliberate than 起こす.
A loud noise roused him from sleep.
Literary or poetic way to say 'rouse from sleep'.
The chirping of birds roused her from sleep.
To cause a strong feeling such as anger, curiosity, or excitement.
Used for stirring up emotions, curiosity, or imagination. Often used with 感情, 好奇心, 想像力.
The story roused my curiosity.
To evoke or summon up a memory, feeling, or spirit. More about bringing something latent to the surface.
To incite or stir up, often with a negative connotation (e.g.,煽る for aggression). Can also mean to fan flames.
To cause someone to become active or to do something, often in a political or social context.
To spur or drive someone to action. Often used with 行動に (to action).
A sense of justice roused him to action.
To inspire or stir up courage, motivation. Often used reflexively (奮い立つ).
His words roused the team.
To inspire or encourage, often in a formal or leadership context.
The leader roused the people.
To make someone more alert or energetic, often after being passive.
Do not use 'rouse' as a direct translation for every context. For waking up, use 起こす; for emotions, use かき立てる or 呼び起こす. Using the wrong verb can sound unnatural.
起こす is the everyday word for waking someone. 目を覚まさせる implies a more forceful or sudden awakening, often by an external stimulus.
His words roused anger.
The music roused nostalgic memories.
彼の演説は群衆の怒りを煽った。
His speech roused the crowd's anger.