How to say "consciousness" in Japanese

• 意識いしきJLPT N3approx.Common
  noun, suru verb, transitive verb, intransitive verbCovers consciousness proper: the state of being awake and aware, as when doctors assess whether a patient is conscious, and by extension awareness of something. This is the word you want in most cases.
• 正気しょうきCommon
  no-adjectiveReally means sanity: being in one's right mind, clear-headed rather than deranged. Its 'consciousness' sense is only this lucidity — whether someone has their wits about them — so it does not cover consciousness in general.
  やっとメアリーは正気しょうきに戻もどった。↗

  At last, Mary recovered her senses.
• 正体しょうたいCommon
  nounAt heart this means one's true identity or nature; as 'consciousness' it covers being in possession of one's senses, chiefly in expressions meaning dazed or not oneself. Seldom the right choice for consciousness itself.

Use 意識 for consciousness as awareness or the waking state; 正気 and 正体 cover only being in one's right mind or having one's senses about one, so they suit lucidity and sanity rather than consciousness in general.

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

• 意識いしきconsciousness
• 正気しょうきsanity
• 人心地ひとごこちconsciousness
• コンシャスネスconsciousness
• 現つうつつreality
• 正体しょうたいconsciousness
• 人心じんしんconsciousness
• 識しきvijnana
• 気きconsciousness