1.
to realize, to perceive, to become aware of
To come to understand something through insight rather than being told directly. Often implies perceiving a truth, hidden intention, or the nature of a situation.
自分の間違いに悟った。
I realized my mistake.
相手の嘘を悟った。
I perceived the other person's lie.
彼は自分の死が近いことを悟り、静かに受け入れた。
He perceived that his death was near and quietly accepted it.
2.
to attain enlightenment, to reach spiritual awakening
In Buddhist contexts, to achieve enlightenment or spiritual understanding. This is the original and most elevated meaning of the word.
修行の末に悟りを開いた。
After much training, he attained enlightenment.
釈迦は菩提樹の下で悟りを得たと伝えられている。
It is said that the Buddha attained enlightenment under the Bodhi tree.
人生の無常を悟り、出家した。
Having realized the impermanence of life, he renounced the world and became a monk.
USAGE:
In everyday use (sense 1), 悟る implies a deeper or more intuitive perception than 気づく (to notice). It suggests understanding the essence or truth of something, not just noticing a surface detail.
KEY NOUN:
悟り (enlightenment; realization) is the nominal form and a well-known Buddhist concept. 悟りを開く and 悟りを得る both mean "to attain enlightenment."
GRAMMAR:
Godan verb ending in る. Transitive in sense 1 (takes を or に): Xを悟る. In sense 2, often used with the noun form 悟り.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 悟りを開く: to attain enlightenment
- 真実を悟る: to perceive the truth
- 死を悟る: to sense one's approaching death
- 悟られないようにする: to act so as not to be found out