What does 起 mean in Japanese?
起 means “wake up, rise, happen” in Japanese. You will often see it in practical words such as 起きる (to wake up; to happen), 起こす (to wake someone; to cause), and 早起き (getting up early).
For learners, the key is to study 起 through real vocabulary. The examples below show how the kanji works in words, sentences, and related kanji.
Reading
On’yomi: キ (ki)
Kun’yomi: お-きる (o-kiru), お-こる (o-koru), お-こす (o-kosu)
Basic Information
| Kanji | 起 |
|---|
How to Understand This Kanji
起 is not limited to one English translation. In 起きる (おきる), it means to wake up; to happen; in 起こす (おこす), it points to to wake someone; to cause; and in 早起き (はやおき), it is used for getting up early. Reading these compounds side by side helps you understand the range of the kanji.
Common Words
- 起きる（おきる / okiru） — to wake up; to happen
- 起こす（おこす / okosu） — to wake someone; to cause
- 早起き（はやおき / hayaoki） — getting up early
- 起立（きりつ / kiritsu） — standing up
- 起点（きてん / kiten） — starting point
- 起業（きぎょう / kigyō） — starting a business
Example Sentences
-
毎朝六時に起きます。
まいあさろくじにおきます。 / Maiasa roku-ji ni okimasu.
I wake up at six every morning.
-
母が子どもを起こしました。
ははがこどもをおこしました。 / Haha ga kodomo o okoshimashita.
The mother woke the child up.
-
早起きは気持ちがいいです。
はやおきはきもちがいいです。 / Hayaoki wa kimochi ga ii desu.
Getting up early feels good.
When Learners Usually See This Kanji
Start with 起きる (おきる / okiru) because it keeps the core meaning of 起 clear. Then add 起こす and 早起き to see how the reading and meaning shift in real vocabulary. Do not memorize 起 as a single English word; connect it to actual words and example sentences.
Summary
起 means “wake up, rise, happen” and appears in useful Japanese words such as 起きる, 起こす, and 早起き.