Japanese word

起きる

Pronunciation

Romajiokiru

Meaning

  • verbget up

Example

毎朝七時に起きます。mai asa shichi ji ni o ki ma su

I get up at seven every morning.

Illustration for 起きる (get up)

More examples

学校の日は早く起きます。gak kō no hi wa haya ku o ki ma su

I get up early on school days.

目覚ましが鳴ると、すぐに起きます。me za ma shi ga na ru to su gu ni o ki ma su

I get up as soon as the alarm rings.

Core concept

Covers the move from sleep to wakefulness and the physical rise that commonly follows.

Common phrases

  • 早く起きるhaya ku o ki ru

    get up early

  • 目覚ましで起きるme za ma shi de o ki ru

    wake up to an alarm

Similar words

起床するkishōsuru: To rise from bed after sleeping, often in a formal or written context.
目覚めるmezameru: To become awake after sleeping.
起き上がるokiagaru: To move from lying or sitting to an upright position.

Definition in Japanese

眠りから覚め、寝床を出る。nemu ri ka ra sa me ne doko o de ru

Word origin

起きる (okiru) is a native Japanese verb formed from the older verb 起く (oku, "to rise"); its written form preserves the idea of rising.

Usage tips

  • The English phrase wake up focuses on becoming conscious, whereas get up focuses on rising, but 起きる (okiru) can express either part of the morning routine.

Other meanings

  • wake upverb

Opposites

Word lists with this word