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verb HSK 5
Traditional 喚醒
huàn xǐng
to wake up · to awaken · to rouse · to evoke

Meaning

唤醒 means to wake someone or something up from sleep or unconsciousness, or metaphorically to awaken awareness, memories, or consciousness. It's more formal and literary than the everyday 叫醒 (jiào xǐng). The word combines 唤 (to call) and 醒 (to wake/be awake), literally meaning 'to call into wakefulness.'

Usage

唤醒 is commonly used in both literal contexts (waking someone from sleep or unconsciousness) and figurative ones (awakening memories, consciousness, or dormant feelings). It carries a somewhat formal or poetic tone compared to the everyday 叫醒. Frequently appears in written Chinese, news articles, and literary works when discussing awakening awareness, reviving memories, or stimulating consciousness.

Examples

  1. 01
    这首老歌唤醒了我童年的记忆。
    Zhè shǒu lǎo gē huàn xǐng le wǒ tóng nián de jì yì.
    This old song awakened my childhood memories.
  2. 02
    医生努力唤醒昏迷的病人。
    Yī shēng nǔ lì huàn xǐng hūn mí de bìng rén.
    The doctor worked hard to rouse the unconscious patient.

Characters

Common collocations

  • 唤醒记忆
    huàn xǐng jì yì
    to awaken memories
  • 唤醒意识
    huàn xǐng yì shí
    to awaken consciousness
  • 被唤醒
    bèi huàn xǐng
    to be awakened
  • 唤醒沉睡的
    huàn xǐng chén shuì de
    to awaken the sleeping

Antonyms

Origin

The verb combines 唤 (to call out, summon) with 醒 (to be awake, to wake). The imagery is of calling someone back to consciousness or wakefulness.

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