1.
refined sake, clear sake
Clear, filtered Japanese rice wine. The official term for what is commonly known as 日本酒 (nihonshu). Refers specifically to sake that has been filtered and is clear, as opposed to unfiltered cloudy sake (濁り酒). This is the term used on product labels and in legal/tax classification.
ラベルに清酒と書いてある。
It says 'seishu' on the label.
日本の清酒は海外でも人気がある。
Japanese sake is popular overseas as well.
この蔵元は江戸時代から続く清酒の醸造所だ。
This brewery has been producing refined sake since the Edo period.
USAGE:
清酒 is the formal and legal term for clear, filtered Japanese rice wine. In everyday conversation, 日本酒 or simply 酒 is far more common. 清酒 appears primarily on product labels, in official documents, and in discussions about brewing.
The character 清 means "clear" or "pure," distinguishing this from 濁り酒 (unfiltered, cloudy sake).
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 日本酒: Japanese sake (everyday term)
- 酒: sake; alcohol in general
- 濁り酒: unfiltered/cloudy sake
- 地酒: local sake