awaken

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: The on reading is せい, and the kun readings are さます or さめる. It has 16 strokes. It appears in words for dispelling sleepiness or intoxication and emerging from those states.
• Basic usage: 醒ます is read さます, and 醒める is read さめる.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• 醒ます / 醒める
  • 醒ます means wake up or sober up and is read さます. It describes intentionally dispelling drowsiness or intoxication.
  • 酔いを醒ますため、彼は静かな部屋で休みました。 means “He rested in a quiet room to sober up.”
  • 醒める means to wake or to sober up and is read さめる. It describes waking or becoming sober as a state ends.
  • 酔いが醒めるまで、彼は静かな部屋で水を飲んだ。 means “He drank water in a quiet room until he sobered up.”