Drinks

Sake
Sake is the general name for any alcoholic drink. (Beer, wine, hard liquor, etc.) It usually receives
the honorific 'o' making it osake. Japanese rice wine is more properly known as nihonshu.
You can have sake/nihonshu served at different temperatures depending on how you like it.
cold

hiya

luke warm

hitohada

hot

atsukan

Beer
beer

biiru

bottled

bin-iri

draft beer

nama biiru

dark beer

kuro biiru

large beer mug

dai jokki

medium beer mug

chuu jokki

Spirits and Liqueurs

brandy

burandee

whisky

uisukii

gin

jin

gin and tonic

jin tonniku

rum

ramu shu

sherry

sherii

vermouth

berumotto

vodka

wokka

straight

sutoreeto

on the rocks

onzarokku / rokku

with water

mizuwari

with soda water

uisukii sooda

single

shinguru

double

daburu

a glass

gurasu ippai

a bottle

bin ippon

Wine
wine

wain

red wine

aka wain

white wine

shiro wain

blush wine

roze

chilled

hieta

at room temperature

shitsuon no

sparkling

supaakuringu

dry

dorai / karakuchi

Other Drinking Vocabulary

kanpai - Kanpai is the term used for cheers at the end of a Japanese toast. On formal occasions
make sure to remember to wait for the kanpai before drinking or eating anything.
nomikai - Nomikai are drinking parties. Most offices have nomikai. Most of the staff will get
together and have a party with drinks and food. There is usually a set price per person for the
party. The first party is often followed by a second party that can last into the wee hours of the
morning. Either of these parties may involve karaoke. At a nomikai, always remember to fill other
people's drinks before they finish, but never fill your own. Make sure to read the note about kanpai
above.
daikou - A daiko is a special kind of taxi service. The blood alcohol tolerance for driving in Japan
is 0%. If your breath smells like alcohol you can be arrested for drunk driving. Many taxi
companies therefore offer daiko. This is one car with two drivers. One driver drives your car, with
you, and the other follows behind.
otsumami - These are snacks that go with alcohol. Popular snacks to go with alcohol include
edamame (soy beans) and pickled vegetables.
karakuchi - 'dry' alcohol
nomihoudai - all you can drink
tabehoudai - all you can eat
shouchuu - Shouchuu is a stronger clear liquor that is usually made by distilling sweet potatoes,
rice, barley or buckwheat. It can exceed 40% alcohol but usually It can be drunk on the rocks,

watered down, or as chuuhai.

chuuhai - Chuuhai are cocktail drinks consisting of shouchuu mixed with various things. Mixers
can include soda water, fruit juice, and ume-boshi (pickled plum). You can also buy canned
chuuhai.