おつまみ

noun

snacks to accompany drinks; bar snacks

1. snacks to go with drinks; appetizer; bar food

Small dishes or snacks eaten while drinking alcohol. Includes items like edamame, dried squid, pickles, nuts, and small prepared dishes. The polite form of つまみ, with the honorific prefix お.

おつまみに枝豆(えだまめ)を頼(たの)んだ。

I ordered edamame as a snack to go with drinks.

ビールに合(あ)うおつまみを作(つく)ろう。

Let's make some snacks that go well with beer.

コンビニで缶(かん)ビールとおつまみを買(か)って、家(いえ)でゆっくり飲(の)むのが好(す)きだ。

I like buying canned beer and snacks at the convenience store and relaxing with a drink at home.

Usage

おつまみ is the polite form of つまみ, which comes from the verb 摘(つま)む (to pinch, to pick at). It refers specifically to food eaten alongside alcoholic drinks, not snacks in general. Japanese convenience stores and supermarkets often have a dedicated おつまみ section near the alcohol.

Common collocations

おつまみに合(あ)う (to go well as a drinking snack)
おつまみを作(つく)る (to make drinking snacks)
おつまみセット (assorted bar snacks set)

Typical items

枝豆(えだまめ) (edamame), するめ (dried squid), 唐揚(からあ)げ (fried chicken), 漬物(つけもの) (pickles), ナッツ (nuts), チーズ (cheese), 冷(ひ)やっこ (chilled tofu)

Similar words

おつまみ: drinking snacks (polite, specific to alcohol)
つまみ: drinking snacks (casual form)
肴(さかな): food served with sake (literary, traditional)
酒(さけ)の肴(さかな): food to accompany alcohol (literary)
おやつ: afternoon snack (for general snacking, not drinking)

Related Words

Compare: 肴(さかな) (food served with sake)

Compare: 酒(さけ)の肴(さかな) (food to accompany alcohol)

Compare: おやつ (afternoon snack)

general

Added 2026.3.4 15:01 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01

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