Japanese Conversation · Level 56
75 words
Japanese word
日本酒
Pronunciation
Romajinihonshu
Meaning
- nounsake
Example
父は日本酒を飲みます。chichi wa nihonshu o no mi ma su
My father drinks sake.
More examples
この料理は日本酒によく合います。ko no ryō ri wa nihonshu ni yo ku a i ma su
This dish goes well with sake.
Core concept
At its core, it is a Japanese drink made by turning rice into alcohol through fermentation with koji.
Common phrases
日本酒を飲むnihonshu o no mu
drink sake
日本酒の銘柄nihonshu no mei gara
brand of sake
日本酒に合うnihonshu ni a u
go well with sake
Similar words
清酒seishu: A formal name for a Japanese drink produced by fermenting rice with koji.
Definition in Japanese
米、米こうじ、水を原料として発酵させて造る日本の酒。bei kome kō ji mizu o gen ryō to shi te hak kō sa se te tsuku ru nihon no sake
Word origin
The compound 日本酒 (nihonshu) joins 日本 (nihon, "Japan") and 酒 (shu, "alcoholic drink") to name Japan's traditional rice-based alcoholic drink.
Usage tips
- In English, sake usually means the Japanese drink, while Japanese 酒 (sake, "alcohol") can refer to alcoholic drinks in general, including beer and wine.