memorize, learn, remember, awake, sober up
覚 centers on the mind becoming aware or retaining something: waking up, sobering up, memorizing, learning, or remembering. The common thread is a shift from unawareness to clarity.
覚 is the modern simplified form of 覺. The older form combines 見 (see) with 學 (learn), suggesting learning through seeing or becoming aware. The modern top ⺌ and 冖 are simplifications of the upper part of 學.
The bottom 見 means 'see'. The top ⺌ and 冖 can be thought of as a roof or cover being lifted. Picture a person waking up and opening their eyes (見) as the covers are pulled away, suddenly aware and ready to remember what they see.
For カク, imagine a person waking up to the sound of a loud 'cock-a-doodle-doo' from a rooster: cock -> カク, and the sudden noise makes them fully awake and alert.
to memorize; to memorise; to commit to memory; to learn by heart; to bear in mind; to remember
sense; sensation; feeling; intuition
readiness; (mental) preparedness
to wake up; to awake
detection (of a plot, fraud, etc.); discovery; coming to light; being uncovered
self-consciousness; self-awareness
to wake; to wake up
waking up; awakening; arousal; revival
(sense of) sight; eyesight; vision
hallucination; illusion
illusion; hallucination
(sense of) taste; palate
(sense of) hearing; auditory perception
alarm clock
perception; sensation; awareness
memory (of having seen something or someone before); remembrance; recollection; recognition
memory; sense; experience
to awaken; to arouse from sleep
stimulant (e.g. psychoactive drugs like methamphetamine, ritalin, etc.)
sense of touch
memo; memorandum; note
remarkable; striking; brilliant; splendid; spectacular; wonderful; conspicuous; outstanding; amazing
memory; ability to learn
to wake up; to awake; to perk up; to snap out (of a day dream, etc.)
alarm clock