覚さます

godan verb (-su), transitive verb

wake someone up; awaken

Transitive: cause a sleeping person to wake. The intransitive counterpart is 覚める (さめる).

• 朝あさ7時じに子こ供どもを覚さました。

  I woke the child up at 7 in the morning.

• 大おおきな音おとで目めを覚さました。

  I was awakened by a loud noise.

godan verb (-su), transitive verb

bring to one's senses; disabuse

Figurative: make someone realize the truth or snap out of a delusion, often used with 迷い (delusion) or 夢 (dream).

• 友ゆう人じんの言こと葉ばが彼かれの迷まよいを覚さました。

  His friend's words brought him to his senses.

• 現げん実じつが彼かれの甘あまい夢ゆめを覚さました。

  Reality disabused him of his naive dream.

godan verb (-su), transitive verb

sober someone up

Only when written 醒ます

Cause an intoxicated person to become sober. Often used with 酔い (drunkenness). The kanji 醒ます is preferred for this sense.

• 冷つめたい水みずで顔かおを洗あらって酔よいを醒さました。

  I sobered up by washing my face with cold water.

godan verb (-su), transitive verb

dampen enthusiasm; spoil the mood

Only when written 醒ます

Figurative: cool down excitement or interest. Restricted to the kanji 醒ます. Often used with 興 (interest) or 熱 (passion).

See also: 冷ます (さます)

• 彼かれの一ひと言ことが場ばの熱ねっ気きを醒さました。

  His single remark dampened the excitement in the room.