The Meaning of sameru [覚める] In Japanese

覚める
さめる
Romaji: sameru N5

What does 覚める mean?

Translation and Meaning

覚める means wake up, become aware, come to one’s senses, and sober up

Definition

覚める means to wake up or become conscious after sleep, or to become aware of a fact or situation; it signifies a transition from an unconscious or dreamy state to clarity and is used as an intransitive ru-verb for both physical waking and figurative realization.

Type

verb (ru-verb, ichidan)

Stroke Order

Meanings

  • wake up physically from sleep or from a dream
  • become aware or realize something, i.e., come to one’s senses
  • be awakened to reality or have an illusion dispelled

Composition

  • 覚: core sense of awakening, perception and memory; the root meaning relates to becoming aware
  • る: verb ending that marks an ichidan (ru) verb

Usage

覚める is used in casual and formal speech as an intransitive ru-verb. Common idioms include 目が覚める to wake up, and 夢から覚める to wake from a dream; in more reflective or narrative contexts you may encounter phrases that mean awakening to reality, while polite speech uses 目が覚めました to indicate morning waking.
💡 Tips
Mnemonic: imagine waking up and suddenly remembering something important; the kanji 覚 conveys perception and memory, so waking up is like your mind remembering and becoming aware at once.

Variations

  • 目が覚める (me ga sameru) – wake up
  • 目覚める (mezameru) – awakening, to become conscious or realize
  • 覚ます (samasu) – to wake someone else up

Example Phrases

  • 今朝、 眠気が 「覚める」 ときに 私は コーヒーを 一杯 飲む。
    Kesa, nemuke ga sameru toki ni watashi wa kōhī o ippai nomu.
    This morning, when my sleepiness clears, I drink a cup of coffee.
    Lista:
    • 今朝、 (kesa) – this morning
    • 眠気が (nemuke ga) – sleepiness
    • 「覚める」 (sameru) – (target) wake up
    • ときに (toki ni) – when
    • 私は (watashi wa) – I
    • コーヒーを (kōhī o) – coffee
    • 一杯 (ippai) – a cup
    • 飲む。 (nomu) – drink
    覚める is an intransitive verb meaning ‘to wake up/clear (sleepiness)’; here 眠気が覚める with が as the subject; ときに marks ‘at the time when’; note the target word is written as 「覚める」.
覚める