Translation guide
A person who drinks alcohol heavily or habitually. In Japanese, there are several colloquial terms, ranging from light teasing to strong derogatory labels.
To refer to someone who drinks a lot or is often drunk, in a casual or mildly critical way.
A common, slightly old-fashioned but still widely understood colloquial term for a heavy drinker or drunkard. Can be used affectionately or teasingly.
うちの父は大の飲んべえで、毎晩晩酌を欠かさない。
My dad is a big boozer and never misses his evening drink.
Literally 'alcohol drinker'. A neutral to slightly negative term for someone who drinks alcohol, often implying habitual drinking.
彼はかなりの酒飲みだから、一緒に飲むと楽しいよ。
He's quite a boozer, so it's fun to drink with him.
Emphasizes a 'heavy' drinker. More intense than 酒飲み.
彼女は大酒飲みとして有名で、一晩で一升瓶を空けるらしい。
She's famous as a boozer; apparently she empties a whole 1.8L bottle in one night.
To harshly criticize someone as a drunkard or alcoholic, often implying a problem.
Abbreviation of アルコール中毒 (alcoholism). Very common colloquial term for an alcoholic or someone who is always drunk. Can be derogatory or self-deprecating.
あの人は完全にアル中だよ。朝から酒を飲んでる。
That guy is a total boozer. He drinks from the morning.
A derogatory term for a drunkard, someone who is always drinking and often drunk. Stronger than 飲んべえ.
Literally 'drunk person'. Refers to someone who is currently drunk, but can also label a habitual drunkard. Less specific than 'boozer' but commonly used.
To refer to someone with alcohol use disorder in a medical or formal context.
The clinical term for alcoholism. Used in medical, legal, or serious discussions.
彼はアルコール依存症の治療を受けている。
He is receiving treatment for alcoholism.
To refer to a drinking establishment, especially a cheap or disreputable one. This is a secondary meaning of 'boozer' in British slang.
A casual term for a bar or pub. Not inherently negative, but can imply a cheap or local drinking spot.
あの飲み屋は安くて雰囲気がいい。
That boozer is cheap and has a good atmosphere.
A Japanese-style pub. The standard term for a casual drinking place with food. Not derogatory.
Do not directly translate 'boozer' as 酒飲む人 or similar. Use the established colloquial terms above. Also, 酔っ払い primarily means 'drunk person' and may not always convey habitual drinking.
飲んべえ is often used affectionately or humorously, while 飲んだくれ is clearly derogatory and implies a useless drunkard. Choose based on the tone you want.
あの飲んだくれは仕事もせずに毎日酒ばかり飲んでいる。
That boozer doesn't work and just drinks every day.
駅前に酔っ払いが寝てたよ。
There was a boozer sleeping in front of the station.
週末はいつもの居酒屋で飲もう。
Let's drink at the usual boozer this weekend.