Translation guide
Describes the mild, pleasant intoxication from alcohol, before full drunkenness. Japanese has several common expressions, with ほろ酔い being the most standard and natural.
Express that someone is mildly drunk, feeling good but not heavily intoxicated.
The most common and natural word for 'tipsy'. It implies a light, pleasant buzz. Can be used as a noun or with する.
彼はほろ酔いでご機嫌だ。
He's tipsy and in a good mood.
ほろ酔い気分で帰宅した。
I went home feeling tipsy.
Literally 'good feeling', often used to describe the pleasant state of being tipsy. More subjective and casual.
ちょっと飲んでいい気分になった。
I had a little to drink and got tipsy.
Means 'the alcohol is starting to take effect', often used when the tipsy feeling begins. Not exclusively tipsy, but commonly used in early stages.
A literary or formal term for slight intoxication. Rare in everyday speech.
微酔を帯びる
to be slightly intoxicated
酔っ払う (よっぱらう) means 'to get drunk' and implies a stronger state of intoxication, often with negative connotations. It is not equivalent to 'tipsy'.
彼は酔っ払って大声で叫んだ。
He got drunk and shouted loudly.
ほろ酔い is a light, pleasant buzz; 酔っ払い (よっぱらい) is a drunk person, often implying loss of control. Use ほろ酔い for 'tipsy'.
彼はほろ酔いだが、まだしっかりしている。
He's tipsy but still coherent.
ちょっとほろ酔い気分です。
I'm feeling a little tipsy.
彼女はすぐほろ酔いになる。
She gets tipsy easily.
少し飲んだだけで酔いが回ってきた。
I only drank a little, but I'm starting to feel tipsy.
あの酔っ払いは道で寝ている。
That drunk person is sleeping on the street.
あの酔っ払いは道で寝ている。
That drunk person is sleeping on the street.