How to say "realize" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 気づくきづくgodan verb, intransitive verbCovers realize as 'become aware': suddenly or belatedly noticing a fact, such as realizing you have made a mistake or left something behind. A natural choice for this sense.
- 思い知るおもいしるgodan verb, transitive verbRealize in the sense of coming to know something keenly, usually through experience, often with regret or a feeling of being taught a lesson — realizing one's own weakness after a failure, for instance.
- 気がつくきがつくexpression, godan verbCovers the same 'become aware' sense as 気づく: noticing or suddenly realizing a fact, such as realizing that someone is gone or that something has changed. Largely interchangeable with 気づく here.
- 果たすはたすgodan verb, transitive verbRealize as 'accomplish, carry out, fulfill': bringing a goal, duty, or ambition to completion through one's own effort. Fits contexts like fulfilling a responsibility or achieving an aim you have long worked toward.
- 叶えるかなえるichidan verb, transitive verbRealize as 'make come true': granting a wish or request, answering a prayer, or bringing a dream to reality. The natural choice for realizing a long-cherished dream.
For realize meaning become aware, use 「気づく」 or 「気がつく」; 「思い知る」 is for realizing something keenly through experience; for making a wish, dream, or goal come true, use 「叶える」 or 「果たす」.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
See also
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