Japanese word

目を覚ます

Pronunciation

Romajimeosamasu

Meaning

  • verbwake up

Example

毎朝、六時に目を覚まします。mai asa roku ji ni me o sa ma shi ma su

I wake up at six every morning.

Illustration for 目を覚ます (wake up)

More examples

休日は目覚まし時計を使わなくても、自然に目を覚まします。kyū jitsu wa me za ma shi tokei o tsuka wa na ku te mo shi zen ni me o sa ma shi ma su

On weekends, I wake up naturally even without an alarm clock.

Core concept

It describes a person crossing from sleep into a state of awareness.

Common phrases

  • 自然に目を覚ますshi zen ni me o sa ma su

    wake up naturally

  • 物音で目を覚ますmono oto de me o sa ma su

    wake up to a noise

Similar words

起きるokiru: To stop being asleep and usually begin the day or get out of bed.
目覚めるmezameru: To become aware again after sleep, without focusing on leaving the bed.

Definition in Japanese

睡眠中の人が、意識のある状態になる。sui min chū no hito ga i shiki no a ru jō tai ni na ru

Word origin

目を覚ます (me o samasu) combines 目 (me, "eye") and 覚ます (samasu, "awaken"), with を (o) marking 目 as the object of the action, giving the idiomatic sense of waking up.

Usage tips

  • The related verb 起こす (okosu) means to wake another person, whereas 目を覚ます (me o samasu) commonly describes the sleeper waking up.

Opposites

Word lists with this word