Japanese symbol for “awake”
目覚める
めざめる
Romaji: mezameru
to wake up; to awake
In Japanese, awake is 目覚める, read めざめる (mezameru).
Before using these characters for a tattoo, check them with a native speaker. Dictionary words often have several meanings, and the right choice depends on context.
Meanings
- v1, vi to wake up; to awake
- v1, vi to awaken to (instinct, ability, perception, etc.); to become aware of; to become conscious of; to realize
- v1, vi to come to one's senses
Written forms: 目覚める、目醒める、目ざめる. Readings: めざめる.
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “awake”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| アウェイク | アウェイク aweiku | awake |
| 目が覚める | めがさめる megasameru | to wake up; to awake; to perk up |
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 目的 | もくてき mokuteki | purpose; goal; aim |
| 目標 | もくひょう mokuhyou | goal; target; aim |
| 注目 | ちゅうもく chuumoku | notice; attention; observation |
| 項目 | こうもく koumoku | item; heading; category |
| 目撃 | もくげき mokugeki | witnessing; observing; sighting |
| 駄目 | だめ dame | no good; not serving its purpose; useless |
| 感覚 | かんかく kankaku | sense; sensation; feeling |
| 覚え | おぼえ oboe | memory; sense; experience |
See also: Chinese symbol for “awake”.
Data: JMdict (CC BY-SA 4.0); KANJIDIC2 (CC BY-SA 4.0); KanjiVG (CC BY-SA 3.0); wordfreq (CC BY-SA 4.0 (data)). Retrieved 2026-10-22.