酒酔(しゅよ)い運転(うんてん)

しゅよいうんてん
noun
drunk driving; driving under the influence
1. drunk driving; driving under the influence
the act of operating a vehicle while impaired by alcohol, a serious criminal offense in Japan
酒酔(しゅよ)い運転(うんてん)は絶対(ぜったい)にしてはいけない。
You must absolutely never drink and drive.
酒酔(しゅよ)い運転(うんてん)で逮捕(たいほ)された。
He was arrested for drunk driving.
酒酔(しゅよ)い運転(うんてん)による事故(じこ)で尊(とうと)い命(いのち)が失(うしな)われることがある。
Precious lives can be lost in accidents caused by drunk driving.

A legal term combining 酒酔(しゅよ)い (intoxication) and 運転(うんてん) (driving). In Japanese traffic law, this is the more serious category of alcohol-impaired driving, where the driver is visibly intoxicated and unable to drive normally. Japan has extremely strict drunk driving laws, with severe penalties including imprisonment.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 酒酔(しゅよ)い運転(うんてん)で検挙(けんきょ)される: to be caught for drunk driving
  • 酒酔(しゅよ)い運転(うんてん)の罰則(ばっそく): penalties for drunk driving
  • 酒酔(しゅよ)い運転(うんてん)事故(じこ): drunk driving accident
  • 酒酔(しゅよ)い運転(うんてん)を撲滅(ぼくめつ)する: to eradicate drunk driving

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • 酒気帯(しゅきお)び運転(うんてん): driving with alcohol detected — the less severe category where blood alcohol is above the legal limit but the driver is not visibly impaired
  • 飲酒運転(いんしゅうんてん): drinking and driving — the general term covering both categories
  • 危険運転(きけんうんてん): dangerous driving — a broader legal term for reckless driving
general
Added 2026.4.22 23:45
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