Translation guide
A person who is habitually drunk or addicted to alcohol. Japanese has many colorful terms, ranging from clinical to slang.
A person who regularly drinks to excess or is dependent on alcohol.
Common, slightly derogatory term for a habitual drunkard. Literally 'drink-fool'.
Abbreviation of アルコール中毒 (alcohol addiction). Casual and often derogatory; can refer to an alcoholic or someone who drinks too much.
Literally 'big drinker'. Emphasizes the large amount consumed rather than addiction.
A person who becomes violent or troublesome when drunk. Focuses on behavior while intoxicated.
Colloquial, somewhat old-fashioned term for a heavy drinker or drunkard. Often used affectionately.
Someone who is intoxicated at the moment, often in a public place.
Direct translations like '酔っぱらい者' or '酒飲み人' are unnatural. Use the established terms above.
飲んだくれ implies a habitual drunkard, while 酔っ払い simply means someone who is currently drunk. 酔っ払い can be used for a one-time occurrence.
彼はすっかり飲んだくれになってしまった。
He's turned into a complete drunkard.
あの人はアル中だから、毎日酒を飲んでいる。
That person is an alcoholic, so they drink every day.
彼は大酒飲みで、一晩に一升瓶を空ける。
He's a heavy drinker; he empties a whole 1.8L bottle in one night.
He's a violent drunk, so it's dangerous to drink with him.
うちの祖父は大の飲兵衛で、毎晩晩酌を欠かさない。
My grandfather is a real drink-lover; he never misses his evening drink.
Most common word for a drunk person. Can be used for anyone who is visibly drunk.
駅前に酔っ払いが寝ていた。
A drunk was sleeping in front of the station.
Literary or formal term for a drunken man. Rare in everyday speech.
夜道で酔漢に絡まれた。
I was accosted by a drunkard on the street at night.