Japanese word

杯

Pronunciation

Romajisakazuki

Meaning

  • nounsake cup

Example

古い杯が棚にあります。furu i sakazuki ga tana ni a ri ma su

There is an old sake cup on the shelf.

Illustration for 杯 (sake cup)

More examples

祝いの席で杯を交わします。iwa i no seki de sakazuki o ka wa shi ma su

We exchange sake cups at celebrations.

Core concept

Describes a cup for sake that marks the drink as part of a traditional or ceremonial setting.

Common phrases

  • 杯を交わすsakazuki o ka wa su

    exchange sake cups

  • 杯を重ねるsakazuki o kasa ne ru

    drink cup after cup

Similar words

酒杯shuhai: A cup intended for drinking sake, with a formal or literary tone.

Definition in Japanese

酒を注いで飲む小型の器で、儀礼や宴席にも用いるもの。sake o soso i de no mu ko gata no utsuwa de gi rei ya en seki ni mo mochi i ru mo no

Word origin

杯 (sakazuki, "sake cup") is a native Japanese compound inherited from 酒坏 (sakatsuki, "sake vessel"), formed from 酒 (saka, "sake") and 坏 (tsuki, "vessel"); voicing changed tsuki to zuki.

Usage tips

  • In English accounts of Japanese weddings, sakazuki is often mentioned alongside the practice of taking three sips from three cups.

Other meanings

  • gobletnoun

Word lists with this word