Translation guide
An alcoholic drink taken before a meal to stimulate the appetite. In Japanese, the concept is often expressed with loanwords or descriptive phrases.
A drink served before a meal to stimulate appetite
The standard Japanese term for an aperitif. Literally 'before‑meal alcohol'. Used in restaurants and formal settings.
食前酒にシェリーをいただきます。
I'll have sherry as an aperitif.
Direct loanword from French. Common in bars and Western‑style restaurants, but may not be understood by all speakers.
A casual way to refer to a pre‑meal drink. Literally 'one cup before the meal'.
食前の一杯にビールをどうぞ。
Have a beer as an aperitif.
Sometimes used to mean 'aperitif' but more commonly refers to appetizers. Can cause confusion.
Often misunderstood as 'appetizer' (food). Use 食前酒 instead.
In Japan, aperitifs are not as common as in Western dining culture. At casual meals, beer or sake may be served before food without a special term. In formal Western‑style courses, 食前酒 is the standard word.
アペリティフはいかがですか？
Would you like an aperitif?
アペタイザーにカクテルを頼んだ。
I ordered a cocktail as an aperitif.