Translation guide
How to express getting extremely drunk in Japanese, from casual to formal.
To become very intoxicated, to the point of losing control or consciousness.
Literally 'mud-drunk', this is the most common and natural way to say 'get dead drunk'. It implies being so drunk you're like mud—unable to function properly.
I got dead drunk last night and have no memory.
Specifically getting so drunk that you lose memory or consciousness.
Literally 'drink until you lose your memory'. A clear, natural way to express drinking to blackout.
Do not translate 'dead drunk' literally as 死ぬほど酔う (shinu hodo you, 'drunk to death'). While understandable, it sounds overly dramatic or literal and is not the natural way to express this concept. Use 泥酔する or ベロベロに酔う instead.
泥酔する is the standard, slightly formal term suitable for most situations. ベロベロに酔う is very casual and vivid, often used among friends. ぐでんぐでんに酔う is also casual but emphasizes helplessness. In formal writing or news, stick to 泥酔.
He was dead drunk at the party.
A very common colloquial expression meaning 'drunk to the point of slurring/stumbling'. 'ベロベロ' is onomatopoeic for tongue-tied or sloppy drunk.
I got dead drunk yesterday and it was rough.
Another colloquial phrase meaning 'completely wasted'. 'ぐでんぐでん' suggests being so drunk you're limp and helpless.
He got dead drunk and couldn't move.
Means 'to drink oneself into a stupor' or 'to pass out from drinking'. Focuses on the result of being incapacitated.
He gets dead drunk every night.
Slangy, somewhat dated but still used, meaning 'dead drunk' or 'plastered'.
I got dead drunk and fell asleep on the street.
He drank until he blacked out.
Means 'drink until you collapse/pass out'. Very common in casual speech.
I drank until I passed out yesterday.