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What's the difference between 目を覚ます and 目が覚める? It seems both of them have the
sense of literally waking up and also to wake up from some delusion.

How are they different in usage?

Perhaps because of transitivity the transitive version `目を覚ます` would indicate
deliberate agency or indicating that the action is in line with
conscious(unconscious? Since the person is asleep literally/figuratively)
volition, while the intransitive version `目が覚める` indicates spontaneity?
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2012-01-16T00:23:15.697
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2012-01-18T07:26:47.457
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question
word-choice
Usage of 目を覚ます and 目が覚める
As you said, one is transitive, the other is intransitive.

目が覚めす You would use it when your body "wake up" by itself. example: I woke up
in the middle of the night.

目を覚ます You would use it when someone/thing "wake your body "up". The example of
chocolate: Go wash your face and wake up/come back fresh ! ('wake up' as a
'get focus'). You, not your body, will wake you up.

Other example, an alarm is called 目覚まし. Because the alarm wakes you up.

Does it make any sense?
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2012-01-18T07:26:47.457
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2012-01-18T07:26:47.457
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answer