Translation guide
In Japanese, the concept of 'alcohol' is most commonly expressed with お酒 (osake) for the beverage in general, or アルコール (arukōru) for the chemical substance or in technical contexts. The word 酒 (sake) without the honorific prefix is also used, but can sound more direct or masculine. When referring to drinking alcohol, the verb 飲む (nomu) is used, and the phrase お酒を飲む (osake o nomu) is the standard way to say 'drink alcohol'.
The speaker wants to refer to alcoholic drinks in general, such as beer, wine, or sake.
The most common and polite way to say 'alcohol' as a beverage. The honorific prefix お makes it sound natural and respectful. Used by both men and women in everyday conversation.
お酒を飲みますか？
Do you drink alcohol?
お酒はあまり強くないんです。
I'm not very good with alcohol.
The same word without the honorific prefix. It can sound more direct, casual, or masculine. Often used in compound words or set phrases.
酒が好きだ。
I like alcohol.
Loanword from English. Often used in technical or medical contexts, or when referring to alcohol content. Can also be used casually for alcoholic beverages.
この飲み物にはアルコールが入っていますか？
Does this drink contain alcohol?
The speaker wants to refer to a specific type of alcohol, such as sake, beer, or wine.
Specifically refers to Japanese sake (rice wine). Use this to distinguish from other types of alcohol.
日本酒を温めてください。
Please warm the sake.
Beer. A very common alcoholic drink in Japan.
とりあえずビール。
I'll start with a beer. (common phrase when ordering)
Wine. Red wine is 赤ワイン (akawain), white wine is 白ワイン (shirowain).
赤ワインをください。
I'll have a red wine, please.
The speaker wants to talk about the act of drinking alcohol.
The standard way to say 'drink alcohol'. The verb 飲む (nomu) means 'to drink'.
昨日はお酒を飲みすぎた。
I drank too much alcohol yesterday.
To go out for drinks. A very common phrase for social drinking.
今夜、飲みに行かない？
Wanna go for drinks tonight?
A casual, somewhat masculine way to say 'have a drink'.
一杯やろうか。
Shall we have a drink?
The speaker is referring to alcohol in a scientific, medical, or industrial context (e.g., ethanol, rubbing alcohol).
The speaker wants to specify that something does not contain alcohol.
Commonly used for non-alcoholic beverages. Often shortened to ノンアル (non'aru) in casual speech.
ノンアルコールビールをください。
I'll have a non-alcoholic beer, please.
A more descriptive way to say 'does not contain alcohol'.
このジュースはアルコールが入っていません。
This juice does not contain alcohol.
お酒 (osake) is the safest and most common word for alcoholic beverages in daily conversation. 酒 (sake) without お can sound blunt or masculine, but is used in compounds like 酒屋 (sakaya, liquor store). アルコール (arukōru) is more technical and often refers to the chemical, but is also used casually for drinks.
お酒は二十歳からです。
Alcohol is from age 20. (legal drinking age)
酒のつまみ
snacks to go with alcohol
アルコール依存症
alcohol dependence / alcoholism
In English, 'sake' usually refers specifically to Japanese rice wine. In Japanese, 酒 (sake) can mean any alcoholic beverage. To specify Japanese rice wine, use 日本酒 (nihonshu).