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Drinks
Sake |
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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. |
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| cold | hiya |
| luke warm | hitohada |
| hot | atsukan |
Beer |
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| 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. |