Synonym Nuance VS
How to say "Wake" in Japanese
Both words can translate to "wake", but which should you choose?
Japanese Option A
起きる
おきる (okiru)
N5 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Option B
起こす
おこす (okosu)
N4 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "wake" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between 起きる and 起こす.
In Japanese, 起きる (おきる (okiru)) is typically associated with "to wake up, to get up" (Syllabus Level: N5) and represents Another essential daily activity verb, often paired with 寝る. Polite form is 起きます.
On the other hand, 起こす (おこす (okosu)) maps to "to wake (someone) up; to cause" (Syllabus Level: N4) and represents Can mean to wake someone up from sleep, or to cause an event, problem, or even to start a fire.. A literal translation of "wake" can often sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers if mixed up!
Bilingual Context for "起きる"
毎朝7時に起きます。
I wake up at 7 AM every morning.
Bilingual Context for "起こす"
毎朝、母が私を起こします。
My mother wakes me up every morning.
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "毎朝7時に起きます。" (Meaning: "I wake up at 7 AM every morning.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "起きる" fits here because it means "to wake up, to get up" in the context of: "I wake up at 7 AM every morning.". "起こす" represents "to wake (someone) up; to cause".