Translation guide
In Japanese, the concept of 'drinking' is most commonly expressed with the verb 飲む (nomu), which covers drinking liquids in general. However, the way you talk about drinking depends heavily on context: casual vs. formal, what is being drunk, and whether you are referring to alcohol or non-alcoholic beverages. This guide covers the main ways to express 'drinking' naturally in Japanese.
To express the act of drinking any liquid, such as water, tea, juice, etc.
The standard verb for 'to drink'. Used for all liquids, including alcohol. Can be used in most situations.
I drink water.
毎朝コーヒーを飲みます。
I drink coffee every morning.
Honorific verb for 'to drink' (or 'to eat'). Use when speaking about someone of higher status drinking.
社長はお茶を召し上がりました。
The company president drank tea.
Humble verb for 'to drink' (or 'to eat'). Use when you are the one drinking, to show respect to the listener.
おいしいお茶をいただきました。
I had some delicious tea.
To talk about consuming alcoholic beverages, often in social contexts.
Let's go drinking. · He drinks too much. · I don't drink alcohol.
The same verb is used for drinking alcohol. Context usually makes it clear.
昨日はたくさん飲んだ。
I drank a lot yesterday.
お酒を飲みますか？
Do you drink alcohol?
Literally 'go to drink', this is the most common way to say 'go out for drinks' or 'go drinking'.
今夜飲みに行かない？
Wanna go for drinks tonight?
金曜日は同僚と飲みに行きます。
On Fridays I go drinking with my coworkers.
Explicitly states 'drink alcohol'. Used when you need to be clear, or in negative sentences.
私は酒を飲まない。
I don't drink alcohol.
Formal, often used in written rules or official contexts.
運転前の飲酒は禁止です。
Drinking before driving is prohibited.
To refer to the activity of drinking together, often implying a party or gathering.
A drinking party or gathering. Very common in Japanese work culture.
今夜は飲み会がある。
There's a drinking party tonight.
Casual expression meaning 'to have a drink' (alcohol). Often used among friends.
仕事の後で一杯やろう。
Let's grab a drink after work.
To express drinking liquid medicine.
The same verb is used for taking liquid medicine. For solid medicine, 飲む is also used (meaning 'to swallow').
咳止めシロップを飲んだ。
I took some cough syrup.
この薬は一日三回飲んでください。
Please take this medicine three times a day.
In English, we 'drink' soup, but in Japanese, soup is typically 'eaten' (食べる) or you 'drink' the broth (汁を飲む). Saying スープを飲む is not wrong but can sound slightly unnatural; スープを食べる is more common for chunky soups.
These three verbs all mean 'to drink', but differ in politeness. 飲む is neutral, 召し上がる is honorific (used for others), and いただく is humble (used for yourself when showing respect to the listener). Use them according to the social situation.