飲む
飲む · godan verb (-mu)
| Form | Positive | Negative |
|---|---|---|
| Dictionary | 飲む | 飲まない |
| Polite | 飲みます | 飲みません |
| Past polite | 飲みました | 飲みませんでした |
| Past | 飲んだ | 飲まなかった |
| Te-form | 飲んで | 飲まないで |
| Desire | 飲みたい | 飲みたくない |
| Potential | 飲める | 飲めない |
| Passive | 飲まれる | 飲まれない |
| Causative | 飲ませる | 飲ませない |
| Causative passive | 飲ませられるalso 飲まされる | 飲ませられないalso 飲まされない |
| Volitional | 飲もう | |
| Polite volitional | 飲みましょう | |
| Imperative | 飲め | 飲むな |
| Conditional | 飲めば | 飲まなければ |
| Tara conditional | 飲んだら | 飲まなかったら |
Meanings
godan verb (-mu), transitive verb
drink; swallow; take (medicine)
General word for drinking liquids, swallowing food or medicine, and taking pills. 呑む can emphasize gulping or swallowing whole.
I want to drink water.
Please take this medicine after meals.
godan verb (-mu), transitive verb
Used specifically for smoking tobacco; タバコを飲む is a set phrase.
He smokes a pack of cigarettes a day.
godan verb (-mu), transitive verb
Usually in passive form (飲まれる). Describes being overwhelmed by waves, crowds, darkness, or a powerful force.
A village swallowed up by the tsunami.
He was engulfed by darkness.
godan verb (-mu), transitive verb
suppress; hold back; swallow (tears, anger, etc.)
Figurative use for suppressing emotions or physical reactions. Common with 涙, 怒り, 息, 言葉, etc.
She swallowed her tears and said goodbye.
He held back his anger and spoke calmly.
godan verb (-mu), transitive verb
accept (demand, conditions); agree to
Used when reluctantly accepting demands, conditions, or unfavorable terms. Often 条件を飲む or 要求を飲む.
The company accepted the union's demands.
He was forced to accept harsh conditions.
godan verb (-mu), transitive verb
make light of; overwhelm; overawe
Describes a presence or attitude that overwhelms or intimidates others. Often 人を飲む or 相手を飲む.
I was overwhelmed by his forcefulness and couldn't say anything.
He approached the negotiation with an attitude that overawed the other party.
godan verb (-mu), transitive verb
carry concealed (dagger, etc.); hide up one's sleeve
Archaic or literary use for concealing a weapon or object on one's person. Rare in modern conversation.
The samurai carried a dagger concealed in his breast.
Usage patterns
- 薬を飲むto take medicine
I had a headache, so I took some medicine.
- 息を飲むto gasp; to hold one's breath (in surprise or awe)
I gasped involuntarily at the beautiful scenery.
- 条件を飲むto accept the conditions (reluctantly)
The company had no choice but to accept the other side's conditions.
- 〈物〉の波に飲まれるto be swallowed up by a wave/crowd (of something overwhelming)
The small boat was swallowed up by the huge wave.
- 涙を飲むto swallow one's tears; to hold back tears
He swallowed his tears of frustration and stayed silent.
Expressions
- 飲み放題all-you-can-drink; bottomless drinks
- 人を飲むwrite 'person' on hand and pretend to swallow to calm nerves
- 生で飲むdrink straight; drink neat
- 飲み足りないnot having had enough to drink (especially alcohol)
- おっぱいを飲むto be breastfed; to drink breast milk
- 爪の垢を煎じて飲むlearn from someone's example; take a lesson from a role model