understanding; comprehension; realization
General non-religious use for grasping or realizing something. In modern Japanese it is often felt as a somewhat abstract or set-expression noun rather than the everyday word for ordinary understanding.
She is quick to understand and grasps the point as soon as it is explained once.
enlightenment; spiritual awakening; satori
Buddhist and religious-philosophical use for awakening to ultimate truth; also used more broadly for a profound spiritual insight.
The monk attained enlightenment after long years of ascetic practice.
He said he had reached a state of spiritual awakening.
After long ascetic training, the monk finally attained enlightenment.
That single remark gave him a realization about life.
She seemed to have reached a quiet state of enlightenment.
解脱 specifically means liberation from the cycle of suffering and rebirth in Buddhist thought, while 悟り focuses on the moment of awakening to truth itself.
覚醒 emphasizes a sudden mental or spiritual awakening, whereas 悟り suggests a deeper, often gradual attainment of enlightenment.
悟り is the common Japanese term for Buddhist enlightenment, while 証 is a more technical Buddhist term for the same realization.
悟り refers to the state of spiritual enlightenment or awakening itself, whereas 恵 refers to the wisdom or insight that enables it.
覚 (さとり) is the name of a mind-reading mountain yōkai, while 悟り (さとり) is the Buddhist concept of spiritual enlightenment—same pronunciation, unrelated meanings.
incomplete enlightenment; superficial understanding · incompletely enlightened person; person with superficial understanding
Standard kanji spelling for both ordinary understanding and Buddhist or spiritual enlightenment.
Rare kanji variant marked as rarely used; 悟り is the practical standard spelling.
A noun form related to the verb 悟る, meaning to realize or awaken. 悟り is the standard spelling; 覚り uses a semantically related but rare alternative kanji.