How to say "revive" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 生き返るいきかえるgodan verb, intransitive verbThe literal sense of revive: a person or living thing comes back to life, or comes to and regains consciousness. The one reviving is the subject of the verb.
- 吹き返すふきかえすgodan verb, transitive verbIts basic sense is wind blowing back in the opposite direction; 'revive' is a secondary sense. For reviving people or things, one of the other words here is usually the one you want.
- 直すなおすgodan verb, transitive verbIts core senses are repairing, mending, and correcting; the revive sense is limited to one's spirits, as when flagging energy or morale picks up. Not the word for bringing anyone back to life.
- 興すおこすgodan verb, transitive verbTo revive in the sense of bringing vigor and energy to something such as an industry: to vitalize, invigorate, or energize it. The reviver acts on the thing being revived.
- 立て直すたてなおすgodan verb, transitive verbTo revive something weakened, such as the economy, by restoring it to its former strength; also to reorganize or rearrange it. Think of rebuilding or restructuring rather than bringing back to life.
Use 「生き返る」 for coming back to life or consciousness, 「興す」 or 「立て直す」 for restoring an industry or economy to vigor, 「直す」 only for reviving one's spirits, while 「吹き返す」 is chiefly about wind blowing back.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
- 生き返るいきかえるto revive
- 吹き返すふきかえすto blow in the opposite direction
- 直すなおすto repair
- 興すおこすto vitalize (e.g. an industry)
- 盛り立てるもりたてるto revive (e.g. a company)
- 再映さいえいrerun
- 意識を回復するいしきをかいふくするto resuscitate
- 生かすいかすto revive
- 立て直すたてなおすto restore (to former strength)
- 呼び戻すよびもどすto bring back (memories, etc.)
- 守り立てるもりたてるto revive (e.g. a company)
See also
This browser can't play pronunciations (needs Safari 18.4 or later, or Chrome / Edge / Firefox).
