also: さかけ
noun
smell of alcohol; liquor smell
Refers to the odor of alcohol on a person's breath or body. Often used in legal or formal contexts (e.g., driving under the influence).
運転手から酒気が感じられた。
The smell of alcohol was detected on the driver.
酒気を帯びて運転してはいけない。
You must not drive under the influence of alcohol.
noun
tipsiness; intoxication
Describes the state of being mildly drunk or affected by alcohol. Often used in set phrases like 酒気を帯びる.
彼は酒気を帯びた様子で帰宅した。
He came home showing signs of intoxication.
Rare native-Japanese reading; mostly found in older or literary contexts.
Compound of 酒 (sake, 'alcohol') and 気 (ki, 'air, atmosphere, sign'). The reading しゅき is the Sino-Japanese on'yomi; the rare reading さかけ uses the native kun'yomi for 酒.