Translation guide
The English word 'drink' can refer to consuming liquids, alcoholic beverages, or the liquid itself. This guide covers natural Japanese expressions for each meaning.
To take liquid into the mouth and swallow it.
The most common and general verb for drinking any liquid.
水を飲む。
I drink water.
毎朝コーヒーを飲みます。
I drink coffee every morning.
Honorific verb for 'to drink' or 'to eat', used when speaking about someone of higher status.
Humble verb for 'to drink' or 'to eat', used when the speaker receives the action. Often used in polite expressions.
To drink up, to finish a drink completely.
To drink alcoholic beverages, often in a social context.
The same verb as for non-alcoholic drinks, but context makes it clear. Often used with words like お酒 (alcohol).
今夜は飲みに行かない？
Wanna go out for drinks tonight?
彼は毎晩お酒を飲む。
He drinks alcohol every night.
Formal term for drinking alcohol, often used in legal or official contexts.
飲酒運転は禁止されています。
Drunk driving is prohibited.
Colloquial expression meaning 'to have a drink' (alcoholic), often implying a casual or quick drink.
仕事の後で一杯やろう。
Let's grab a drink after work.
A liquid that can be consumed.
General term for any drink or beverage.
何か飲み物をください。
Please give me something to drink.
飲み物は何がいいですか？
What would you like to drink?
Loanword from English, often used in menus or commercial contexts.
Specifically refers to alcoholic beverages. Adding お makes it polite.
お酒を飲みすぎないでください。
Please don't drink too much alcohol.
Formal term for beverages, used in product labels or official documents.
To ingest liquid medicine.
The same verb 飲む is used for taking liquid medicine.
風邪薬を飲んだ。
I took cold medicine.
この薬は食後に飲んでください。
Please take this medicine after meals.
While ドリンク is understood, 飲み物 is the natural, everyday word for beverages. ドリンク is mostly used in commercial names like ドリンクバー (drink bar) or スポーツドリンク (sports drink).
飲む is for liquids, 食べる is for solids. However, soup (スープ) can be 飲む if drunk from a cup, or 食べる if eaten with a spoon. Medicine in pill form uses 飲む even though it's solid.
スープを飲む / スープを食べる
drink soup / eat soup
薬を飲む
take medicine (pills or liquid)
水を一杯もらえますか？
Can I have a drink of water?
彼らは飲みに出かけました。
They went out drinking.
社長はお茶を召し上がりました。
The company president drank tea.
お茶をいただきます。
I will have some tea. (humble)
ビールを一気に飲み干した。
He downed the beer in one go.
ドリンクバーはあちらです。
The drink bar is over there.
清涼飲料水
Soft drink (literally 'refreshing beverage')