Translation guide
Describes the state of being mildly intoxicated, where one feels lightheaded and relaxed but not fully drunk. Japanese has several common expressions to convey this, ranging from standard to casual.
ほろ酔いです。
I'm tipsy.
彼は少し酔っています。
He's a little drunk.
To express that someone is a little drunk, feeling the effects of alcohol but not heavily intoxicated.
The most common and natural word for 'tipsy'. It implies a pleasant, mild intoxication.
ほろ酔い (horoyoi) means tipsy or pleasantly buzzed, while 酔っ払い (yopparai) means drunk or intoxicated, often with a negative connotation of being visibly drunk. Use ほろ酔い for a mild, happy state.
彼はほろ酔いだけど、弟は酔っ払いだ。
He's tipsy, but his younger brother is drunk.
To emphasize the pleasant sensation, you can combine ほろ酔い with 気分 (kibun, feeling) as in ほろ酔い気分 (horoyoi kibun).
ビール一杯で、もうほろ酔いだった。
After one beer, I was already tipsy.
彼女はすぐにほろ酔いになる。
She gets tipsy very easily.
彼はほろ酔いで楽しそうだ。
He looks happy being tipsy.
ほろ酔い気分で帰宅した。
I went home feeling tipsy.
A straightforward phrase meaning 'a little drunk'. It's neutral and can be used in most situations.
少し酔っているけど、まだ大丈夫。
I'm a little tipsy, but still okay.
Literally 'good feeling', often used to describe the pleasant buzz of being tipsy. More about the mood than the physical state.
ワイン一杯でいい気分になった。
I got tipsy from just one glass of wine.
A literary or formal term for slight intoxication. Rarely used in everyday conversation.
微酔を帯びた様子で話し始めた。
He began to speak with a tipsy air.