How to say "awakening" in Japanese

• 覚醒かくせいCommon
  noun, suru verb, intransitive verbCovers both the literal act of waking up and figurative awakenings, such as coming to awareness or revival; its arousal sense also appears in physiological contexts. A broad term spanning sleep, mind and body.
  おそらく自分じぶんには半はん覚醒かくせいの時間じかんがあり、そのため１日ついたちを短みじかく感かんじている。↗

  It's quite possible that there are times I am half awake, and thus the day feels shorter.
• 喚起かんきCommon
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbReally means arousing or evoking something — stirring feelings, attention or awareness in others — rather than anyone waking up. Seldom the word you want for a person's awakening from sleep.
  この本ほんがあなたの想像力そうぞうりょくを喚起かんきしてくれるでしょう。↗

  This book will awaken your imagination.
• 目覚めめざめCommon
  nounThe natural word for waking itself: the moment of rising from sleep. It can also express a figurative awakening of feelings or awareness, but waking from sleep is its core sense.
  彼かれは人々ひとびとを無知むちから目覚めざめさせようとした。↗

  He tried to awake people from their ignorance.

For waking from sleep choose 「目覚め」; for a broad or figurative awakening — coming to awareness, revival, or arousal of body and mind — choose 覚醒; use 喚起 only when 'awakening' means stirring or evoking something in others.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 覚醒かくせいwaking up
• 喚起かんきarousal
• 目覚めめざめwaking