Readings: シュ (Onyomi), さけ, さか (Kunyomi)
Meaning: Alcohol; sake
The kanji 酒 is a pictograph depicting a wine jar with contents. The left radical 酉 (sake jar) represents a vessel for fermented liquids, and the right component relates to liquid or water, collectively signifying alcoholic beverages.
View JLPT N3 Kanji ListHow to Write – Stroke Order
The kanji 酒 consists of 10 strokes. It begins with the radical 酉 on the left, which signifies a sake jar. The strokes on the right complete the character, giving it its full form and meaning.
Kanji Details
| Radical | 酉 (とりへん) |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 10 |
| JLPT Level | N3 |
| Grade | Jōyō kanji |
Readings with English Transcription
Onyomi (Chinese readings)
- シュ (shu)
Kunyomi (Japanese readings)
- さけ (sake)
- さか (saka)
Common Words Using 酒
Onyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 飲酒 | いんしゅ | drinking alcohol |
| 日本酒 | にほんしゅ | Japanese sake |
| 洋酒 | ようしゅ | Western liquor |
| 果実酒 | かじつしゅ | fruit liqueur |
| 禁酒 | きんしゅ | prohibition (of alcohol), abstinence from alcohol |
| 酒税 | しゅぜい | liquor tax |
| 酒精 | しゅせい | alcohol (chemical term) |
| 蒸留酒 | じょうりゅうしゅ | distilled liquor |
| 酒造 | しゅぞう | sake brewing |
| 銘酒 | めいしゅ | famous sake/wine |
Kunyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| お酒 | おさけ | alcohol, sake (polite) |
| 酒屋 | さかや | liquor store |
| 居酒屋 | いざかや | Japanese pub, izakaya |
| 酒場 | さかば | bar, pub |
| 酒飲み | さけのみ | heavy drinker |
| 酒好き | さけずき | lover of alcohol |
| 酒盛り | さかもり | drinking party |
| 酒粕 | さけかす | sake lees |
| 酒びたり | さけびたり | being soaked in alcohol, heavy drinking |
| 朝酒 | あさざけ | morning drink |
Example Sentences
Japanese: 昨日の夜、友達と居酒屋でお酒を飲みました。
Kana: きのうのよる、ともだちといざかやでおさけをのみました。
Romaji: Kinō no yoru, tomodachi to izakaya de osake o nomimashita.
English: Last night, I drank alcohol with friends at an izakaya.
Japanese: 日本酒は日本の伝統的なお酒です。
Kana: にほんしゅはにほんのでんとうてきなおさけです。
Romaji: Nihonshu wa Nihon no dentōteki na osake desu.
English: Japanese sake is a traditional Japanese alcoholic beverage.
Japanese: 彼は毎日、晩酌をするのが習慣です。
Kana: かれはまいにち、ばんしゃくをするのがしゅうかんです。
Romaji: Kare wa mainichi, banshaku o suru no ga shūkan desu.
English: It’s his habit to have an evening drink every day.
Japanese: この酒はとても美味しいです。
Kana: このさけはとてもおいしいです。
Romaji: Kono sake wa totemo oishii desu.
English: This sake/alcohol is very delicious.
Japanese: 未成年者の飲酒は法律で禁止されています。
Kana: みせいねんしゃのいんしゅはほうりつできんしされています。
Romaji: Miseinensha no inshu wa hōritsu de kinshi sarete imasu.
English: Underage drinking is prohibited by law.
Japanese: 彼女はあまりお酒が飲めません。
Kana: かのじょはあまりおさけがのめません。
Romaji: Kanojo wa amari osake ga nomemasen.
English: She can’t drink much alcohol.
Japanese: この酒屋は珍しいお酒をたくさん置いています。
Kana: このさかやはめずらしいおさけをたくさんおいています。
Romaji: Kono sakaya wa mezurashii osake o takusan oite imasu.
English: This liquor store has many rare alcoholic beverages.
Japanese: お酒を飲む前に、水を飲むと二日酔いになりにくいです。
Kana: おさけをのむまえに、みずをのむとふつかよいになりにくいです。
Romaji: Osake o nomu mae ni, mizu o nomu to futsukayoi ni narinikui desu.
English: If you drink water before drinking alcohol, you’re less likely to get a hangover.
Japanese: 彼はお酒に強いですが、すぐに顔が赤くなります。
Kana: かれはおさけにつよいですが、すぐにがおがあかくなります。
Romaji: Kare wa osake ni tsuyoi desu ga, sugu ni kao ga akaku narimasu.
English: He can hold his liquor well, but his face quickly turns red.
Japanese: このレストランでは、地元の日本酒が楽しめます。
Kana: このレストランでは、じもとのにほんしゅがたのしめます。
Romaji: Kono resutoran de wa, jimoto no nihonshu ga tanoshimemasu.
English: You can enjoy local sake at this restaurant.
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