(さけず)

さけずき
noun, na-adjective
person who likes alcohol; fond of drinking
informalfoodperson
1. person who likes alcohol; fond of drinking
Someone who enjoys drinking alcoholic beverages. Can describe either the person or the quality of being fond of alcohol.
(ちち)酒好(さけず)きだ。
My father likes his drink.
I went to an izakaya with a friend who loves drinking.
It's a bar with an irresistible selection for alcohol lovers.

Composed of (さけ) (alcohol, sake) and () (liking, fond of). The () becomes ()き (voiced) in this compound due to rendaku. A casual, everyday word with no negative connotation — it simply means someone enjoys alcohol, unlike 大酒飲(おおざけの)み or アルコール依存症(いぞんしょう), which imply excess.

Common collocations

Similar words

  • ()兵衛(べえ): heavy drinker — colloquial and somewhat humorous
  • 左党(さとう): drinker, sake lover — literary/humorous synonym
  • 甘党(あまとう): person with a sweet tooth — the opposite pairing, preferring sweets over alcohol

Related pattern

The ~()き pattern is productive: (あま)(もの)()き (sweet tooth), (ねこ)()き (cat lover), 映画(えいが)()き (movie lover).