酔い
also: えい
Meanings
1
Refers to the state of being drunk from alcohol. Often used in compounds like 酔いが回る (the intoxication sets in) or 酔いを覚ます (sober up).
See also: 酔う (よう)
As the intoxication set in, his speech became slurred.
I washed my face with cold water to sober up.
2
motion sickness; travel sickness
Used for sickness caused by motion, such as in vehicles. Commonly appears in compounds like 車酔い (car sickness) or 船酔い (seasickness).
See also: 酔う (よう)
I get motion sickness as soon as I get on a bus and feel nauseous.
I took seasickness medicine before boarding the ferry.
Usage patterns
- 酔いで倒れるto collapse from drunkenness
He collapsed from being so drunk.
- 酔いをこらえるto fight off motion sickness
I fought off motion sickness on the bus.
- 酔いが抜けないfor the drunkenness not to wear off
Even after sleeping all night, the drunkenness hasn't worn off.
- 酔いに苦しむto suffer from motion sickness
I suffered from seasickness during the boat trip.
Expressions
- 酔いが回るget drunk; become tipsy
- 酔いが覚めるsober up; become sober
- 酔いを覚ますsober up
- 生酔い本性違わずin wine there is truth; drunken words are sober thoughts
- 酔い醒めの水下戸知らずa teetotaler doesn't know how good water tastes after drinking