Meaning and Usage
The verb '깨우다' primarily means 'to wake someone up' from sleep. It is a transitive verb, so it requires an object — the person or thing being awakened. For example, '엄마가 나를 깨워요' means 'Mom wakes me up.'
Extended Meanings
Besides the literal sense of waking from sleep, '깨우다' can be used metaphorically to mean 'to awaken' or 'to arouse' someone's awareness, thoughts, or feelings. For instance, '생각을 깨우다' means to awaken thoughts or consciousness.
Common Collocations
- '잠을 깨우다' — to wake someone from sleep
- '의식을 깨우다' — to awaken consciousness
- '생각을 깨우다' — to stimulate or awaken thoughts
Register and Politeness
'깨우다' is a neutral verb and can be used in both casual and polite speech depending on the sentence ending. It is common in everyday conversation.
Learner Tips
A common confusion is mixing '깨우다' with '일어나다' (to get up). Remember, '깨우다' means to wake someone else up, while '일어나다' means to get up oneself. For example, '엄마가 나를 깨워요' (Mom wakes me up) vs. '나는 일어나요' (I get up).