Japanese word

覚ます

Pronunciation

Romajisamasu

Meaning

  • verbwake

Example

朝、子どもを覚ましました。asa ko do mo o sa ma shi ma shi ta

I woke the child in the morning.

Illustration for 覚ます (wake)

More examples

冷たい水で眠気を覚ましました。tsume ta i mizu de nemu ke o sa ma shi ma shi ta

The cold water woke me up.

Core concept

Expresses causing someone to leave sleep or a foggy state and regain ordinary awareness.

Common phrases

  • 眠気を覚ますnemu ke o sa ma su

    shake off drowsiness

Similar words

起こすokosu: To cause a sleeping person to wake up, often so the person can get out of bed.

Definition in Japanese

眠っている人や酔っている人を、意識のはっきりした状態にする。nemu tte i ru hito ya yo tte i ru hito o i shiki no ha kki ri shi ta jō tai ni su ru

Word origin

覚ます (samasu, "to wake or clear") is a native Japanese verb related to 覚める (sameru, "to awaken or become clear"), with a transitive meaning of causing that change.

Usage tips

  • 覚ます (samasu) can mean waking someone from sleep or bringing someone out of drunkenness, while English "sober up" is often used without an object.

Other meanings

  • sober upverb

Opposites

  • 眠らせるnemuraseruput to sleepverb

Word lists with this word