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日本酒 (にほんしゅ, nihonshu) Japanese meaning: sake | Kotomora

日本にほん酒しゅ

に

ほ

ん

しゅ

Common word›JLPTN1›

Meanings

1

sake; Japanese rice wine

Refers specifically to Japanese sake brewed from rice, water, koji mold, and yeast. Distinct from other alcoholic drinks.

日本にほん酒しゅは米こめから作つくられる。

Sake is made from rice.

この店みせは日本にほん酒しゅの種しゅ類るいが豊ほう富ふだ。

This shop has a wide variety of sake.

Usage patterns

日に本ほん酒しゅを注つぐto pour sake
彼かれはゲストのグラスに日本にほん酒しゅを注ついだ。
He poured sake into the guest's glass.
〈料りょう理り〉に日に本ほん酒しゅが合あうsake pairs well with 〈dish〉
この刺さし身みには日本にほん酒しゅがよく合あう。
Sake pairs very well with this sashimi.
日に本ほん酒しゅを醸じょう造ぞうするto brew sake
この蔵くら元もとは昔むかしから日本にほん酒しゅを醸じょう造ぞうしている。
This brewery has been brewing sake since long ago.
冷ひやで日に本ほん酒しゅを飲のむto drink sake chilled/at room temperature (not heated)
夏なつは冷ひやで日本にほん酒しゅを飲のむのが好すきだ。
In summer I like to drink sake unheated.
日本酒にほんしゅで乾杯かんぱいするto toast with sake
新しん年ねんを日本にほん酒しゅで乾かん杯ぱいした。
We toasted the new year with sake.

Kanji

日day, sun, Japan
本book, present, main
酒sake, alcohol

Related words

酒さけN4
酒 is the general word for any alcoholic drink, while 日本酒 specifically means Japanese rice wine brewed from rice, water, koji, and yeast.
清せい酒しゅ
清酒 is the formal/legal term used on labels and in official contexts for refined sake, while 日本酒 is the everyday word people actually say.
お酒さけN5
日本酒 refers specifically to Japanese rice wine, whereas お酒 can mean any alcoholic drink in general.
正まさ宗むね
日本酒 is the neutral, standard word for Japanese rice wine, whereas 正宗 is an old colloquial nickname for good sake that originated from a Nada brand name.
焼しょう酎ちゅうN1
日本酒 is brewed (like beer or wine) and has a lower alcohol content, whereas 焼酎 is distilled and typically stronger.

Opposites

洋よう酒しゅN1
洋酒 refers to Western-style alcoholic drinks like whiskey and wine, while 日本酒 is traditional Japanese rice wine.

Don't confuse with

焼しょう酎ちゅうN1
焼酎 is a distilled spirit (often from sweet potato, barley, or rice), while 日本酒 is brewed, not distilled, and generally has a lower alcohol content.
ワインN4
日本酒 refers specifically to Japanese rice-based sake, whereas ワイン refers to grape wine, so the two are different kinds of alcohol often confused by beginners learning drink vocabulary.

Word family

日本にほん酒しゅ度ど
sake meter value; SMV

Built from

日本にほん+酒しゅ

Etymology

Compound of 日本 (Japan) and 酒 (alcoholic drink, sake). The reading にほんしゅ follows standard on'yomi.