Translation guide
The state of being drunk or intoxicated. In Japanese, this is expressed through nouns, adjectives, and descriptive phrases, with nuances ranging from mild tipsiness to severe intoxication.
Describing the condition of being drunk in a neutral or general sense.
A general noun for drunkenness or intoxication. Can be used in various contexts.
酔いが回ってきた。
The drunkenness is kicking in.
酔いを覚ますために水を飲んだ。
I drank water to sober up.
Refers to a drunk person or the state of being drunk, often with a slightly colloquial or negative connotation.
彼はただの酔っ払いだ。
He's just a drunk.
Formal term for being dead drunk or heavily intoxicated. Often used in legal or medical contexts.
泥酔状態で運転してはいけない。
You must not drive while heavily intoxicated.
Expressing a light, pleasant level of intoxication.
Describes a state of being tipsy or slightly drunk, often with a positive nuance.
ほろ酔い気分で帰宅した。
I went home feeling tipsy.
Literally 'good feeling', used to describe a pleasant buzz from alcohol.
ビール一杯でいい気分になった。
I got a nice buzz from one beer.
Describing heavy intoxication or being wasted.
Verb meaning to get drunk. Often used in past tense to describe the state.
昨夜はすっかり酔っ払った。
I got completely drunk last night.
Onomatopoeic word for being very drunk, often implying loss of control. Colloquial.
Verb form of 'dead drunk'. More formal or dramatic.
彼は泥酔して道で寝ていた。
He was dead drunk and sleeping on the street.
Referring to the after-effects of drunkenness.
The standard word for hangover.
二日酔いで頭が痛い。
I have a headache from a hangover.
酔い (yoi) is a neutral noun for drunkenness, while 酔っ払い (yopparai) often refers to a drunk person and can sound derogatory. Use 酔い for the state itself.
酔いが覚めた。
The drunkenness wore off.
酔っ払いが道で寝ている。
A drunk is sleeping on the street.
Avoid directly translating 'drunkenness' as 酔い性 (yoisei) or similar made-up compounds. Stick to natural expressions like 酔い or 酔っ払い.
彼はベロベロになるまで飲んだ。
He drank until he was wasted.