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生酔い (なまよい) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

生なま酔よい

な

ま

よ

い

Meanings

1

tipsy; slightly drunk

Describes a mild state of intoxication, not heavily drunk. Often used in casual conversation.

ビール一いっ杯ぱいで生なま酔よいになった。
I got tipsy after just one beer.

Expressions

生なま酔よい本ほん性しょう違たがわずin wine there is truth; drunken words are sober thoughts

Kanji

生life, genuine, birth
酔drunk, feel sick, poisoned

Related words

酔よっ払ぱらい
酔っ払い means 'drunkard' or 'being very drunk', while 生酔い is a milder, tipsy state.
ほろ酔よい
ほろ酔い also means 'tipsy' or 'slightly drunk', but is more common and often has a pleasant connotation. 生酔い can be used similarly but is less frequent.

生なま酔よいのまま帰き宅たくした。

I went home while still slightly drunk.

Built from

生なま+酔よう

Etymology

Compound of 生 (nama, 'raw, fresh, unprocessed') and 酔い (yoi, 'drunkenness'). The prefix 生 here suggests a light or incomplete state of intoxication.