tỉnh giấc
Definition
- Verb phrase:
- To wake up (from sleep): The primary meaning of "tỉnh giấc" is to become conscious after sleeping, to awaken from a sleep state. It emphasizes the moment of regaining consciousness.
- To be roused from sleep: It can describe the action of being awakened, whether naturally or by an external stimulus.
Usage Examples
- Verb phrase:
- Tôi tỉnh giấc lúc nửa đêm vì tiếng ồn. (I woke up in the middle of the night because of a noise.)
- Cô ấy tỉnh giấc với cảm giác bình yên. (She woke up with a feeling of peace.)
- Đứa bé tỉnh giấc và bắt đầu khóc. (The baby woke up and started crying.)
Advanced Usage
- The phrase often carries a nuance of waking up suddenly or abruptly from a deep sleep, rather than a gradual, natural awakening.
- Một cơn ác mộng khiến anh ấy tỉnh giấc, mồ hôi đầm đìa. (A nightmare made him wake up, drenched in sweat.)
Variants and Related Words
Tỉnh dậy (verb phrase): to wake up. This is a very close synonym and is often interchangeable with "tỉnh giấc."
- Ông ấy tỉnh dậy rất sớm. (He wakes up very early.)
Thức giấc (verb phrase): to awaken from sleep. Another synonym with a similar meaning.
- Tôi thức giấc mà vẫn còn mệt. (I awoke but still felt tired.)
Synonyms
- To wake up: The most direct and common equivalent.
- To awaken: A more formal synonym.
- To come to: Can be used in contexts of regaining consciousness.
Related Idioms
- Tỉnh giấc nửa đêm: to wake up in the dead of night.
- Tỉnh giấc nửa đêm, anh nhìn ra cửa sổ đầy sao. (Waking up in the dead of night, he looked out at the star-filled window.)