1.
Japanese sake, Japanese rice wine
An alcoholic beverage brewed from rice, water, and koji mold. The term specifically distinguishes traditional Japanese alcohol from foreign alcoholic drinks.
日本酒を一杯ください。
One glass of sake, please.
この日本酒は辛口で飲みやすい。
This sake is dry and easy to drink.
日本酒は冷やでも熱燗でも楽しめるのが魅力だ。
The appeal of sake is that you can enjoy it chilled or hot.
USAGE:
日本酒 specifically means sake brewed in the Japanese tradition, as distinct from 洋酒 (Western liquor) or other foreign drinks. In casual speech, Japanese people often say simply お{酒} or {酒}, which can mean either sake specifically or alcohol in general depending on context.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 日本酒を飲む: to drink sake
- 辛口の日本酒: dry sake
- 甘口の日本酒: sweet sake
- 熱燗: hot sake
- 冷や / 冷酒: chilled sake
CULTURAL NOTE:
Sake brewing has a long history in Japan. Key terms include 純米酒 (pure rice sake), 吟醸 (premium sake), and 大吟醸 (super premium sake).