Translation guide
How to express the act or state of waking up in Japanese, from natural morning routines to formal contexts.
To express the action of waking up from sleep, typically in the morning or after a nap.
The most common and neutral verb for 'to wake up' or 'to get up'. Can refer to both opening your eyes and getting out of bed.
Literally 'eyes become clear/awake'. Focuses on the moment of regaining consciousness, often used when something causes you to wake up.
大きな音で目が覚めた。
I woke up because of a loud noise.
朝、自然に目が覚める。
I wake up naturally in the morning.
Similar to 目が覚める but slightly more literary or emphatic. Can also mean 'to awaken' in a spiritual or intellectual sense.
彼は深い眠りから目覚めた。
He awoke from a deep sleep.
Formal or written term for 'getting up' or 'rising'. Used in official contexts, schedules, or medical settings.
起床時間は7時です。
Wake-up time is 7 o'clock.
To express the action of causing someone else to wake up.
Transitive verb meaning 'to wake someone up'. The person being woken is marked with を.
明日7時に起こして。
Wake me up at 7 tomorrow.
子供を起こすのは大変だ。
Waking up the kids is tough.
Causative form of 目が覚める, meaning 'to make someone wake up' or 'to bring someone to their senses'. Can be used literally or figuratively.
彼の言葉が私の目を覚まさせた。
His words woke me up (made me realize something).
To describe the state of being awake, as opposed to being asleep.
The progressive form of 起きる, meaning 'to be awake'. Commonly used to ask if someone is still up.
まだ起きてる？
Are you still awake?
昨夜は遅くまで起きていた。
I was awake until late last night.
Literally 'eyes are awake'. Emphasizes the conscious state, often used when you can't fall asleep or are fully alert.
夜中に目が覚めていることが多い。
I'm often awake in the middle of the night.
To express a figurative awakening, such as realizing a truth or becoming aware of a situation.
Also used figuratively to mean 'to come to one's senses' or 'to see the truth'.
彼の話を聞いて目が覚めた。
Listening to him, I woke up (to reality).
Formal or technical term for 'awakening', often used in spiritual, psychological, or fantasy contexts.
彼は精神的に覚醒した。
He experienced a spiritual awakening.
起きる is the general verb for waking up and getting up. 目が覚める focuses on the moment your eyes open and consciousness returns. Use 起きる for daily routines, and 目が覚める when emphasizing the cause of waking or the state of being awake.
毎朝起きるのがつらい。
It's hard to wake up every morning.
地震で目が覚めた。
I woke up because of the earthquake.
起きる (intransitive) means 'to wake up (oneself)'. 起こす (transitive) means 'to wake someone up'. Using the wrong one can change the meaning.
私は6時に起きる。
I wake up at 6.
母が私を6時に起こす。
My mother wakes me up at 6.