酒(さけ)

酒(さけ) means both Japanese sake (rice wine) and alcohol in general.

Types

• 日本酒(にほんしゅ): Japanese sake (rice wine)
• 焼酎(しょうちゅう): shochu (distilled spirit)
• 梅酒(うめしゅ): plum wine
• 洋酒(ようしゅ): Western liquor
• ビール: beer

TYPES (ways of serving sake):

• 熱燗(あつかん): hot sake
• 冷(ひ)や: room temperature sake
• 冷酒(れいしゅ): chilled sake

Common expressions

• 酒(さけ)を飲(の)む: to drink alcohol
• 酒(さけ)に強(つよ)い: can hold one's liquor
• 酒(さけ)に弱(よわ)い: can't hold one's liquor
• 居酒屋(いざかや): izakaya (Japanese pub)

Watch out

• In everyday speech お酒(さけ) is far more common than bare 酒(さけ), which sounds blunt or masculine. お酒(さけ) also covers alcohol in general (お酒(さけ)が飲(の)めない: can't drink alcohol).