Translation guide
The English verb "brew" has two main meanings: making beer (or similar fermented drinks) and making hot drinks like tea or coffee. In Japanese, different verbs are used for these contexts. This guide covers both, plus related nouns and expressions.
To produce beer, sake, or other alcoholic drinks by fermentation
The standard verb for brewing alcoholic beverages like beer, sake, or wine. Used in formal and technical contexts.
この工場ではビールを醸造しています。
This factory brews beer.
A more general verb meaning 'to make' or 'to produce'. When used for alcoholic drinks, it implies brewing. Common in everyday language.
日本酒を造るのは難しい。
Brewing sake is difficult.
Specifically refers to the preparation stage of brewing, such as mixing ingredients and starting fermentation. Often used for sake or soy sauce.
杜氏が酒を仕込む。
The master brewer prepares the sake mash.
To prepare a hot drink by steeping or infusing
The most common verb for brewing tea or coffee. It implies careful preparation, often with hot water.
コーヒーを淹れましょうか。
Shall I brew some coffee?
紅茶を淹れるのが上手ですね。
You're good at brewing tea.
A more general verb meaning 'to put in' or 'to pour'. Often used casually for making tea or coffee, but can sound less refined than 淹れる.
To brew by boiling or decocting, often used for herbal teas or medicinal infusions. Can sound old-fashioned or technical.
A drink made by brewing, especially beer
The standard word for beer. Note that in Japanese, 'beer' specifically refers to malt-based brews, while low-malt or non-malt drinks have different names.
冷たいビールが飲みたい。
I want a cold brew (beer).
Craft beer or local brew. Literally 'local beer'.
A technical term for brewed alcoholic beverages (as opposed to distilled or compounded). Includes beer, sake, wine, etc.
To be forming or gathering force, usually negative
A phrase meaning 'is beginning to happen' or 'is brewing'. Used for abstract things like trouble or a crisis.
争いが起こりつつある。
Trouble is brewing.
Means 'is approaching' or 'is imminent'. Can be used for storms or crises.
嵐が迫っている。
A storm is brewing.
An idiomatic phrase meaning 'a touch-and-go situation' or 'a powder keg ready to explode'. Used when a conflict is brewing.
両国の間は一触即発の状態だ。
Trouble is brewing between the two countries.
Both can be used for making tea or coffee, but 淹れる (ireru) specifically means 'to brew' with care, while 入れる (ireru) is a general verb for 'putting in' and can sound casual. In writing or polite speech, 淹れる is preferred for tea and coffee. Note that both are pronounced the same (ireru) but written with different kanji.
醸造する (jōzō suru) is only for alcoholic fermentation. Using it for tea or coffee would sound very strange. Use 淹れる or 入れる instead.
I made (brewed) tea.
漢方薬を煎じる。
Brew herbal medicine.
この町の地ビールは美味しい。
The local brew in this town is delicious.
ビールは醸造酒の一種です。
Beer is a type of brewed beverage.