おつまみ
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.
おつまみに枝豆を頼んだ。
I ordered edamame as a snack to go with drinks.
ビールに合うおつまみを作ろう。
Let's make some snacks that go well with beer.
コンビニで缶ビールとおつまみを買って、家でゆっくり飲むのが好きだ。
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:
- おつまみに合う (to go well as a drinking snack)
- おつまみを作る (to make drinking snacks)
- おつまみセット (assorted bar snacks set)
TYPICAL ITEMS:
枝豆 (edamame), するめ (dried squid), 唐揚げ (fried chicken), 漬物 (pickles), ナッツ (nuts), チーズ (cheese), 冷やっこ (chilled tofu)
SIMILAR WORDS:
- おつまみ: drinking snacks (polite, specific to alcohol)
- つまみ: drinking snacks (casual form)
- 肴: food served with sake (literary, traditional)
- 酒の肴: food to accompany alcohol (literary)
- おやつ: afternoon snack (for general snacking, not drinking)