Translation guide
The English phrase 'wake up' covers both the act of ceasing to sleep and the act of causing someone to stop sleeping. Japanese uses different verbs for these, and also distinguishes between waking up naturally and getting out of bed.
I wake up at 7.
Wake me up at 8.
To cease sleeping, to become awake after sleep.
The most common and general verb for waking up. It can mean both waking up and getting up out of bed.
I wake up at 6 every morning.
Literally 'eyes become clear/awake'. Emphasizes the moment of becoming conscious, often used for natural or spontaneous waking.
Literally 'to clear one's eyes'. Can be used intransitively to mean waking up, but often implies a deliberate or sudden awakening. Also used figuratively for 'come to one's senses'.
More commonly used transitively (see next meaning). As intransitive, it can sound a bit literary or emphatic.
To rouse someone from sleep, to awaken another person.
The standard transitive verb meaning 'to wake someone up'. Used for waking family members, friends, etc.
To leave one's bed after waking, to get up.
Same verb as 'wake up', but context usually makes it clear whether it means waking or getting up. Often used with time expressions.
To become aware of something, to stop being naive or inattentive.
起きる is the general verb for waking and getting up. 目が覚める focuses on the moment of regaining consciousness. Use 起きる for daily routines; use 目が覚める when emphasizing the cause or suddenness of waking.
It's hard to wake up every morning.
I woke up many times last night.
大きな音で目が覚めた。
I woke up because of a loud noise.
It feels good to wake up with the morning sun.
He finally woke up (came to his senses).
Please wake me up at 7 tomorrow.
My mother woke me up.
Causative form of 目を覚ます, meaning 'to make someone wake up'. More emphatic or forceful than 起こす.
It's hard to wake him up.
Get up already!
Literally 'to get out of the futon/bed'. Emphasizes the physical action of leaving the bedding.
It's so cold I can't get out of bed.
Formal term for 'getting up', used in official contexts like hotels, hospitals, or schedules.
Wake-up time is 6 o'clock.
Figurative use meaning 'to wake up to reality', 'to come to one's senses', or 'to realize the truth'.
Wake up to reality.
He finally woke up to his own mistake.
Also used figuratively for a sudden realization or enlightenment, often from an external stimulus.
Those words woke me up (made me realize).
I was woken up by the earthquake.
起こす (okosu) is transitive: 'to wake someone up'. 起きる (okiru) is intransitive: 'to wake up (oneself)'. Using the wrong one changes the meaning completely.
I wake up at 6.
I wake my child up at 6.