Translation guide
The English word 'guzzling' describes drinking quickly, greedily, or in large amounts, often with a negative or informal tone. This guide covers how to express this concept naturally in Japanese.
To describe someone drinking a lot, quickly, and often noisily, like guzzling beer or water.
A common, casual verb meaning to gulp down or guzzle a drink. Often used for beer, water, or other beverages.
彼はビールをがぶ飲みした。
He guzzled beer.
暑くて水をがぶ飲みした。
It was hot, so I guzzled water.
An onomatopoeic adverb + verb meaning to drink in large gulps, emphasizing the sound or action. Very similar to がぶ飲みする but slightly more descriptive.
彼は水をがぶがぶ飲んだ。
He guzzled water.
Implies drinking greedily or voraciously, often with a sense of desperation or lack of manners. More often used for eating, but can apply to drinking.
彼は酒をがつがつ飲んでいた。
He was guzzling alcohol greedily.
To emphasize the speed of drinking, like downing a drink.
Means to drink in one breath or chug. Commonly used for finishing a drink quickly, often in social settings.
彼はビールを一気に飲んだ。
He downed his beer in one go.
一気に飲まないでください。
Please don't guzzle it down.
Means to drink up or drain a glass. Focuses on finishing the drink completely, often quickly.
An onomatopoeic expression for taking a big gulp or swig, often used for alcohol. Implies a single, forceful swallow.
彼はウイスキーをぐいっと飲んだ。
He took a big gulp of whiskey.
To describe a vehicle or machine using a lot of fuel, like 'guzzling gas'.
Literally 'fuel efficiency is bad', this is the standard way to say a car guzzles gas. Not a direct translation but the natural equivalent.
この車は燃費が悪い。
This car guzzles gas.
A colloquial phrase meaning 'to eat gas', implying heavy consumption. More vivid and informal than 燃費が悪い.
この車はガソリンを食う。
This car guzzles gas.
Usually means 'big eater' for people, but can metaphorically describe a machine that consumes a lot. Not common for vehicles.
There is no single Japanese verb that perfectly matches 'guzzling' in all contexts. Using がぶ飲みする for drinking is natural, but for fuel consumption, use phrases like 燃費が悪い instead of trying to directly translate 'guzzle'.
この車はガソリンをがぶ飲みする。
This car guzzles gas. (unnatural, too literal)
He guzzled down the glass of water.
This air conditioner guzzles electricity.