焼酎(しょうちゅう)

しょうちゅう
noun
shochu; distilled spirit
food
1. shochu; distilled spirit
A Japanese distilled alcoholic beverage, typically made from sweet potato, barley, rice, or buckwheat. Generally 20-25% alcohol, stronger than sake but milder than many Western spirits.
焼酎(しょうちゅう)をロックで。
Shochu on the rocks.
芋(いも)焼酎(しょうちゅう)が一番(いちばん)好(す)きだ。
I like sweet potato shochu the best.
焼酎(しょうちゅう)は水割(みずわ)りにすると飲(の)みやすくなる。
Shochu becomes easier to drink when mixed with water.

Japan's most widely consumed distilled spirit, with a long history especially in Kyushu. Unlike sake (日本酒(にほんしゅ)), which is brewed, shochu is distilled. It can be made from various base ingredients, each producing a distinct flavor profile.

Types

  • 芋(いも)焼酎(しょうちゅう) — sweet potato shochu (rich, earthy flavor; Kagoshima specialty)
  • 麦(むぎ)焼酎(しょうちゅう) — barley shochu (lighter, smoother)
  • 米(こめ)焼酎(しょうちゅう) — rice shochu (delicate, sake-like)
  • 蕎麦(そば)焼酎(しょうちゅう) — buckwheat shochu

Related words

Ways of drinking it:

Similar words

  • 日本酒(にほんしゅ) — sake; brewed rice wine, not distilled
  • 泡盛(あわもり) — awamori; Okinawan distilled spirit, similar to shochu but made with Thai rice and black koji mold

Related Words

Compare: 日本酒(にほんしゅ) (sake)
Related: ビール (beer)
Related: 水割(みずわ)り (mixed with cold water)
Related: お湯(ゆ)割(わ)り (mixed with hot water)
Related: ロック (on the rocks)
Related: 炭酸割(たんさんわ)り (with soda)
Related: 醸造酒(じょうぞうしゅ) (brewed alcoholic beverage)
general
Added 2026.3.27 14:09 · Revised 2026.10.19 21:53
19500/19874_shouchuu