How to say "enlightenment" in Japanese

• 啓発けいはつCommon
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbNot personal or spiritual enlightenment: this means enlightening others — edification and raising public awareness. Think of efforts to inform the public about an issue, not an awakening one attains oneself.
  というわけで、人材じんざいを啓発けいはつするためのセンターが日本にっぽんに作つくられるべきであろう。↗

  Therefore, a center for the development of human resources should be built in Japan.
• 啓蒙けいもうCommon
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbEnlightenment as illuminating other minds — spreading knowledge to those who lack it. This is the word for the intellectual movement known as the Enlightenment; it does not describe a personal awakening.
• 菩提ぼだいCommon
  nounThe Buddhist term for enlightenment — the awakening that the Buddha attained. Use it when speaking of enlightenment as a religious concept or goal within Buddhism.
• 大悟たいごCommon
  noun, suru verb, intransitive verbEnlightenment as a great awakening — a momentous, profound realization. Choose it when the emphasis is on the greatness of the insight rather than on enlightenment as a general concept or doctrine.
• 開眼かいがんCommon
  noun, suru verb, intransitive verbA spiritual awakening pictured as opening one's eyes to the truth. It fits the moment of coming to see, more than enlightenment treated as an abstract doctrine.

For enlightenment as spiritual awakening, choose 菩提 (the Buddhist term), 大悟 (a great awakening), or 開眼 (awakening to the truth); 啓蒙 and 啓発 instead mean enlightening or educating others.

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

• 啓発けいはつenlightenment
• 啓蒙けいもうenlightenment
• 菩提ぼだいbodhi
• 大悟たいごenlightenment
• 開眼かいがんenlightenment
• 教化きょうかeducation
• 開明かいめいcivilization
• 恵えwisdom
• 開化かいかcivilization
• 啓迪けいてきedification
• 開悟かいごwisdom
• 啓蒙主義けいもうしゅぎilluminism
• 悟道ごどう(the path of spiritual) enlightenment
• 悟りさとりenlightenment
• 証しょうenlightenment
• 寂静じゃくじょうenlightenment
• 果かenlightenment (as the fruits of one's Buddhist practice)
• 開けひらけcivilization