Explore 覚 in words about memory, waking and sensation. Learn each reading with a complete word.

The idea

覚 has 12 strokes; follow the linked diagram. 覚える（おぼえる） means memorize or remember; 目が覚める（めがさめる） means wake up. In 記憶（きおく） and 感覚（かんかく） it is read かく.

Patterns to compare
Japanese wordReadingExample in context
覚えるおぼえるI memorized a new word.
目が覚めるめがさめるI woke up early this morning.
記憶きおくI have a clear memory of that day.
感覚かんかくI felt a shaking sensation.

Examples

  • 新あたらしい言葉ことばを覚おぼえました。I memorized a new word.
  • 私わたしの名前なまえを覚おぼえていますか。Do you remember my name?
  • 今朝けさは早はやく目めが覚さめました。I woke up early this morning.
  • 目覚めざまし時計どけいが私わたしを起おこしました。The alarm clock woke me up.
  • あの日ひの記憶きおくがはっきりあります。I have a clear memory of that day.
  • 揺ゆれる感覚かんかくがありました。I felt a shaking sensation.

Read-aloud uses a synthetic Japanese voice available on your device. Voice quality and availability vary; it does not assess your pronunciation.

Watch out

覚える can mean both learning something by heart and remembering it. 目が覚める describes waking up; 起こす means waking someone else.

Try it yourself

  1. Write the reading of 覚える in hiragana.

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    おぼえる

    覚える is おぼえる: a new word can be memorized. Learn the reading with the whole verb.

  2. Write the reading of 記憶 in hiragana.

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    きおく

    記憶 is きおく, meaning memory; 覚 is read く in this compound.

  3. Choose the missing kanji: 目が＿める（さめる）［覚／学］.

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    覚

    覚 completes 目が覚める, read めがさめる: to wake up.

Use it today

Write 覚 using the diagram, cover the table and read 覚える and 記憶. Then make a sentence with one.