覚める

• Reading: さめる
• Romaji: sameru
• Kanji breakdown: 覚 (kaku/sa) — to awaken, perceive
• Pronunciation: /sa.me.ɾɯ/

Meaning

To wake up; to awaken; to come to one's senses. The intransitive verb for regaining consciousness or clarity.

A Group 2 (ichidan) verb conjugated by dropping る. The intransitive counterpart of 覚ます (to awaken). Most commonly used in 目が覚める (to wake up). Also used figuratively for snapping out of a daze or illusion: 夢から覚める (to wake from a dream), 酔いが覚める (to sober up).

Examples

1. 朝六時に自然に目が覚めた。 I naturally woke up at six in the morning.
2. 長い昼寝から覚めると外はもう暗かった。 When I woke up from a long nap, it was already dark outside.
3. 酔いが覚めてから昨夜のことを思い出した。 After I sobered up, I remembered what happened last night.

Usage Guide

Context: daily life, figurative, dreams

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From the verb stem さめる, written with 覚 (kaku, to awaken/perceive). The intransitive counterpart of 覚ます, describing the natural process of regaining awareness.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal