飲酒する in 30 Seconds
- 飲酒する (inshu suru) is the formal Japanese verb for drinking alcohol, used primarily in legal, medical, and professional contexts rather than casual social settings.
- It consists of the kanji for 'drink' and 'alcohol,' making it a Sino-Japanese (Kango) compound that functions as a suru-verb in formal reports.
- Commonly seen in phrases like 'inshu unten' (drunk driving) and 'miseinen inshu' (underage drinking), it emphasizes the objective act of consumption.
- B1 learners should use this word when filling out forms or writing formal essays, but stick to 'o-sake wo nomu' with friends.
The Japanese term 飲酒する (inshu suru) is a formal, Sino-Japanese (Kango) verb that translates directly to 'to drink alcohol' or 'the act of consuming alcoholic beverages.' Unlike the more common and casual phrase お酒を飲む (o-sake wo nomu), which you would use when inviting a friend for a beer or describing your weekend plans, 飲酒する carries a clinical, legal, or official tone. It is composed of two kanji: 飲 (in) meaning 'drink' and 酒 (shu) meaning 'alcohol' or 'sake,' followed by the light verb する (suru) to do. This structure is typical for formal vocabulary in Japanese, where nouns are transformed into verbs to describe specific actions in a professional context.
- Register
- Formal and Technical. Primarily used in news reports, police documentation, medical forms, and legal regulations.
- Semantic Nuance
- Focuses on the physiological or legal act of consumption rather than the social enjoyment of drinking.
公共の場での飲酒する行為は法律で禁止されています。 (The act of drinking alcohol in public places is prohibited by law.)
You will most frequently encounter this word in the context of 飲酒運転 (inshu unten), which means drunk driving. In Japan, the laws regarding alcohol consumption and operating a vehicle are extremely strict, with a zero-tolerance policy. Therefore, the word 飲酒する is often associated with warnings, safety campaigns, and legal consequences. If a doctor asks you about your lifestyle habits, they will likely use this term to ask, 'Do you drink alcohol?' as it sounds more professional and objective in a clinical setting. It removes the 'pleasure' aspect of the activity and treats it as a data point for health assessment.
- Historical Context
- The use of Sino-Japanese compounds like 'inshu' became prevalent during the modernization of the Meiji era to create precise legal and scientific terminology.
健康診断の前に飲酒するのは控えてください。 (Please refrain from drinking alcohol before your health checkup.)
Furthermore, the term is essential for discussing social issues such as 未成年飲酒 (miseinen inshu), or underage drinking. In Japanese society, where the legal age is 20, the term is used in school education and media to emphasize the legal boundaries. Even though Japan has a strong drinking culture (nomikai), the word 飲酒する serves as the anchor for the 'serious' side of that culture, dealing with health, safety, and law. Understanding this distinction is key for B1 learners who are moving beyond basic survival Japanese into more nuanced, context-aware communication.
- Grammatical Note
- Because 'inshu' is a noun, it can be used alone (e.g., 'inshu no shuukan' - drinking habit) or as a verb with 'suru'.
昨夜、彼は過度に飲酒した形跡がある。 (There are signs that he drank excessively last night.)
Integrating 飲酒する into your Japanese requires a shift in mindset from descriptive actions to objective reporting. In a sentence, this verb often functions as a formal predicate or a modifier for a noun. For example, when discussing rules, you might say 「業務中に飲酒することは厳禁です」 (Drinking alcohol during work hours is strictly prohibited). Here, the verb is nominalized with 'koto' to serve as the subject of the sentence, a common pattern in formal regulations.
彼は毎日飲酒する習慣がある。 (He has a habit of drinking alcohol every day.)
- Syntactic Pattern 1
- [Time/Occasion] + に + 飲酒する (To drink at a specific time/occasion). Example: 祭りに飲酒する。
Another common usage is in the negative form, particularly in warnings. 「飲酒しての運転は絶対にやめてください」 (Please absolutely refrain from driving after drinking). In this case, the 'te-form' 飲酒して connects the act of drinking to the subsequent act of driving, emphasizing the causal or sequential relationship that the law forbids. It is also important to note that because 飲酒 already contains the object 'alcohol' (酒), you do not need to add 'o-sake wo' before it. Saying 'o-sake wo inshu suru' would be redundant and incorrect, much like saying 'to drink-drink alcohol' in English.
二十歳未満の者が飲酒することは禁止されている。 (It is prohibited for persons under twenty to drink alcohol.)
- Syntactic Pattern 2
- [Condition] + の場合、飲酒を控える (Refrain from drinking in case of [Condition]).
When using the potential form, 飲酒できる (can drink), it usually refers to legal eligibility or physical capacity in a medical sense. For instance, 「薬を服用している間は飲酒できません」 (You cannot drink alcohol while taking this medication). Notice how the sentence sounds like a professional medical advice. If you were talking to a friend, you would say 「薬を飲んでるから、お酒は飲めないんだ」. The choice of 飲酒する immediately signals to the listener that the context is serious, factual, and likely involves safety or health protocols.
適度に飲酒することは健康に良いという説もある。 (There is a theory that drinking alcohol in moderation is good for health.)
In summary, use 飲酒する when you want to sound objective. It is the language of the 'Adult World'—the world of contracts, doctors, and police officers. By mastering its use, you demonstrate a high level of sociolinguistic competence, showing that you know not just *what* to say, but *how* to say it appropriately for the environment you are in.
While you might not hear 飲酒する at a lively izakaya, it is omnipresent in Japanese public life. One of the most common places is on public transportation. Train stations and buses often display posters with the slogan 「飲酒運転は犯罪です」 (Drunk driving is a crime). During the holiday season, such as Bon or New Year's, police often set up checkpoints, and the news will report on the number of people arrested for 飲酒運転. In these broadcasts, the announcer will say, 「運転手は飲酒したことを認めています」 (The driver admits to having drunk alcohol).
ニュース：昨夜、飲酒運転による事故が発生しました。 (News: An accident caused by drunk driving occurred last night.)
Another setting is the workplace. Many Japanese companies have strict policies regarding alcohol, especially for those in the transport or construction industries. During morning briefings (cho-rei), a manager might remind employees, 「前日の過度な飲酒は控えるように」 (Refrain from excessive drinking the night before). This is because safety is a top priority, and the word 飲酒 frames the consumption of alcohol as a risk factor to be managed, rather than a leisure activity.
- Context: Medical Checkup
- Doctors use 'inshu' to categorize patient habits. Example: 'Inshu-reki' (drinking history).
In the realm of media and entertainment, particularly in documentaries or serious dramas, characters might use this term when discussing social problems. A social worker might talk about アルコール依存症における飲酒の問題 (The problem of drinking in alcohol addiction). Even in anime, if a character is portrayed as a strict professional—like a detective or a doctor—they might use 飲酒する to maintain their character's persona of being analytical and distant.
病院の問診票：「週に何回飲酒しますか？」 (Hospital form: 'How many times a week do you drink alcohol?')
Finally, you will see this word on labels and signs in stores. Signs near the liquor section of a convenience store might read 「未成年者の飲酒は法律で禁じられています」. This serves as a legal disclaimer. By recognizing 飲酒する in these varied contexts, you start to see how Japanese separates 'living' (casual language) from 'society' (formal language). It’s a word that defines the boundaries of acceptable behavior in the public eye.
The most frequent mistake learners make with 飲酒する is using it in the wrong register. Register refers to the level of formality and the social context of a word. If you are at a party and say to a friend, 「今夜は飲酒しますか？」 (Will you drink alcohol tonight?), you will sound incredibly stiff, like a robot or a government official questioning a suspect. While the sentence is grammatically correct, it is socially 'clunky.' In such a setting, always use 「お酒を飲みますか？」.
Mistake: 友達と公園で飲酒した。 (Sounds like a police report.)
Correction: 友達と公園でお酒を飲んだ。
- Redundancy Error
- Avoid saying 'O-sake wo inshu suru.' The word 'inshu' already includes the concept of 'sake' (alcohol).
Another mistake is confusing 飲酒 (inshu) with 吸酒 (not a word) or other similar-sounding compounds. Because many Sino-Japanese words start with 'in' (like inryou - beverage), learners sometimes mix them up. Remember that 飲酒 is specifically for alcohol. If you are talking about water or soda, you must use nomu or inryou wo sesshu suru (to consume a beverage). Using 飲酒 for a glass of orange juice would be very confusing for a Japanese speaker.
Incorrect: ジュースを飲酒する。 (You can't 'alcohol-drink' juice.)
There is also a nuance error regarding the 'suru' part. Some learners treat 飲酒 as a regular noun that can be the object of 'nomu' (e.g., inshu wo nomu). This is incorrect. 飲酒 is the *act* itself. You can inshu wo hikaeru (refrain from drinking) or inshu wo yameru (stop drinking), but you cannot 'drink the act of drinking.' Understanding that 飲酒 is a verbal noun (meishi) that usually takes する is vital.
Lastly, pay attention to the particles. While o-sake wo nomu uses the object particle を, 飲酒する often stands alone as a complete verb phrase. If you want to specify *where* or *when*, use で or に. For example, 「車内で飲酒する」 (To drink alcohol inside the car). Beginners often try to force an object into the sentence where none is needed, leading to awkward phrasing.
Japanese has a rich vocabulary for drinking, and choosing the right word depends entirely on the context and the 'vibe' you want to convey. 飲酒する is the most clinical. Let's look at its counterparts and how they differ in terms of register and meaning.
- お酒を飲む (O-sake wo nomu)
- The standard, everyday way to say 'drink alcohol.' Safe for almost all social situations.
- 晩酌する (Banshaku suru)
- Specifically refers to having a drink with dinner at home. It has a cozy, domestic connotation.
父は毎晩、ビールで晩酌するのが楽しみだ。 (My father looks forward to having a drink with dinner every night.)
If you want to describe someone who drinks a lot, you might use 大酒を飲む (ooshake wo nomu) or the more formal 多量飲酒 (taryou inshu). The latter is used in medical reports to describe heavy drinking as a health risk. On the other end of the spectrum, 嗜む (tashinamu) is a very elegant word that means 'to enjoy in moderation' or 'to have a taste for.' If someone asks if you drink and you want to sound sophisticated, you could say, 「お酒は少々嗜む程度です」 (I enjoy a little alcohol now and then).
- 深酒する (Fukazake suru)
- To drink late into the night or to drink heavily. Often implies a negative consequence the next day.
- 梯子酒 (Hashigozake)
- 'Ladder drinking'—bar hopping. Going from one place to another to drink.
When talking about the state of being drunk, 酔う (you) is the verb. 飲酒する describes the *act* of drinking, while 酔う describes the *result*. If you are completely wasted, the word is 泥酔する (deisui suru), literally 'dead-drunk like mud.' This is another formal-sounding compound but used to describe a very messy state. By comparing these words, we see that 飲酒する is the neutral, clinical baseline from which all these other colorful expressions deviate.
健康のために深酒は避けましょう。 (Let's avoid heavy/late-night drinking for the sake of our health.)
Pronunciation Guide
- Pronouncing 'shu' as 'shee-oo' instead of a single syllable.
- Over-emphasizing the 'n' sound.
- Using English 'r' for the Japanese 'r' in 'suru'.
- Confusing the pitch accent with 'inshu' (seeds/species - though rare).
- Adding an extra 'o' before 'inshu'.
Examples by Level
ここで飲酒してはいけません。
You must not drink alcohol here.
Uses 'te wa ikemasen' for prohibition.
飲酒は二十歳から。
Drinking is from age twenty.
A common slogan in Japan.
彼は飲酒をしますか。
Does he drink alcohol? (Formal)
Inshu as a noun with 'o' and 'suru'.
飲酒する人は少ないです。
There are few people who drink alcohol.
Modifying the noun 'hito'.
父は飲酒しません。
My father doesn't drink alcohol.
Negative form of 'inshu suru'.
飲酒は体に悪いです。
Drinking is bad for the body.
Inshu used as the subject.
公園で飲酒する。
To drink alcohol in the park.
Plain form usage.
飲酒のルールを守る。
Follow the rules of drinking.
Inshu as a noun with the particle 'no'.
飲酒運転は絶対にダメです。
Drunk driving is absolutely not allowed.
Compound: Inshu + Unten.
薬を飲むなら、飲酒しないでください。
If you take medicine, please don't drink alcohol.
Negative request form 'naide kudasai'.
昨夜、彼は飲酒しましたか。
Did he drink alcohol last night?
Past tense 'shimasita'.
飲酒すると顔が赤くなります。
When I drink alcohol, my face turns red.
Conditional 'to' indicating a natural consequence.
お祭りで飲酒する人が多い。
Many people drink alcohol at festivals.
Relative clause modifying 'hito'.
飲酒の習慣はありません。
I don't have a drinking habit.
Inshu as a noun describing 'shuukan'.
仕事の前に飲酒してはいけない。
You must not drink alcohol before work.
Prohibition in plain form.
飲酒を控えてください。
Please refrain from drinking alcohol.
Formal request using 'hikaeru'.
健康診断の二十四時間前は飲酒を避けてください。
Please avoid drinking alcohol 24 hours before your health checkup.
Formal advice in a medical context.
未成年者が飲酒することは法律で禁じられている。
Drinking alcohol by minors is prohibited by law.
Passive voice 'kinjirarete iru'.
適度に飲酒することはストレス解消になる。
Drinking in moderation helps relieve stress.
Nominalization 'koto' as the subject.
彼は飲酒の影響で仕事に遅れた。
He was late for work due to the effects of drinking.
Inshu + 'no eikyou' (effects of).
飲酒した状態でプールに入らないでください。
Please do not enter the pool after drinking alcohol.
Inshu shita joutai (state of having drunk).
彼女は飲酒の強要を断った。
She refused the pressure to drink alcohol.
Inshu no kyouyou (forced drinking).
毎日の飲酒が肝臓に負担をかける。
Daily drinking puts a burden on the liver.
Inshu as the subject with 'ga'.
飲酒のルールは国によって異なります。
Drinking rules vary by country.
Formal comparison.
飲酒運転の厳罰化により、事故件数が減少した。
Stricter penalties for drunk driving led to a decrease in the number of accidents.
Compound: Genbatsuka (stricter penalties).
過度な飲酒は、依存症のリスクを高める。
Excessive drinking increases the risk of addiction.
Formal cause-and-effect structure.
公共交通機関内での飲酒マナーが問われている。
Drinking manners on public transportation are being questioned.
Passive 'toiarete iru'.
妊娠中の飲酒は胎児に悪影響を及ぼす可能性がある。
Drinking during pregnancy can have a negative impact on the fetus.
Technical term 'eikyou wo oyobosu'.
社員の飲酒トラブルを防ぐための講習会が開かれた。
A workshop was held to prevent alcohol-related troubles among employees.
Inshu toraburu (alcohol trouble).
飲酒を伴う宴会は、日本のビジネス文化の一部だ。
Banquets involving drinking are part of Japanese business culture.
Inshu wo tomunau (involving/accompanied by).
彼は飲酒を理由に解雇された。
He was dismissed on the grounds of drinking.
Inshu wo riyuu ni (with drinking as the reason).
自治体は飲酒による騒音問題を調査している。
The local government is investigating noise problems caused by drinking.
Inshu ni yoru (caused by).
飲酒が社会に与える経済的損失は無視できない。
The economic losses that drinking imposes on society cannot be ignored.
Complex relative clause.
飲酒の是非を巡って、激しい議論が交わされた。
A heated debate was held over the pros and cons of drinking.
Inshu no zehi (pros and cons).
宗教上の理由で飲酒を禁じている地域もある。
There are regions that prohibit drinking for religious reasons.
Shuukyou-jou no riyuu (religious reasons).
飲酒文化の変容が、若者のアルコール離れを加速させている。
Changes in drinking culture are accelerating the trend of young people moving away from alcohol.
Inshu bunka (drinking culture).
彼は飲酒の習慣を断つために、専門のクリニックに通っている。
He is going to a specialized clinic to break his drinking habit.
Inshu no shuukan wo tatsu (break the habit).
飲酒の頻度と寿命の相関関係について研究が行われた。
Research was conducted on the correlation between drinking frequency and lifespan.
Soukan kankei (correlation).
政府は飲酒に関する規制を強化する方針を固めた。
The government has firmed up its policy to strengthen regulations regarding drinking.
Houshin wo katameru (firm up a policy).
飲酒後の入浴は血圧の急変動を招く恐れがある。
Bathing after drinking may lead to sudden fluctuations in blood pressure.
Osore ga aru (there is a fear/risk).
飲酒という行為が、文学作品において象徴的な意味を持つことは多い。
The act of drinking often holds symbolic meaning in literary works.
Inshu to iu koui (the act called drinking).
飲酒の社会的受容性は、その時代の倫理観に深く根ざしている。
The social acceptability of drinking is deeply rooted in the ethics of the time.
Shakaiteki juyousei (social acceptability).
過度な飲酒がもたらす認知機能の低下は、現代社会の深刻な課題である。
The decline in cognitive function brought about by excessive drinking is a serious challenge for modern society.
Ninchi kinou (cognitive function).
飲酒の習慣化が、個人のアイデンティティ形成に及ぼす影響を考察する。
We will consider the impact that the habitualization of drinking has on the formation of individual identity.
Habitualization (shuukanka).
法的な飲酒年齢の引き上げは、公衆衛生の観点から議論されるべきだ。
Raising the legal drinking age should be discussed from a public health perspective.
Koushuu eisei no kanten (public health perspective).
飲酒を礼賛する文化が、アルコールハラスメントの温床となっている側面は否定できない。
It cannot be denied that a culture that glorifies drinking serves as a breeding ground for alcohol harassment.
Onshou (breeding ground/hotbed).
飲酒による自己抑制の喪失が、暴力事件の引き金となるケースが散見される。
Cases where the loss of self-control due to drinking triggers violent incidents are seen here and there.
Jiko yokusei no soushitsu (loss of self-control).
飲酒の歴史を紐解けば、人類と発酵技術の密接な関わりが見えてくる。
Unraveling the history of drinking reveals the close relationship between humanity and fermentation technology.
Rekishi wo himotoku (unravel history).
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
— Drunk driving. One of the most common legal terms in Japan.
飲酒運転は重大な犯罪です。
— Underage drinking. Refers to drinking under the age of 20 in Japan.
未成年飲酒防止キャンペーン。
— Sobriety checkpoint. Police checking drivers for alcohol.
駅前で飲酒検問が行われている。
— Social drinking. Drinking only on specific occasions.
私は機会飲酒しかしません。
— Heavy drinking. A medical term for consuming large amounts.
多量飲酒は肝臓病の原因になる。
— Urge to drink. Often used in addiction recovery contexts.
強い飲酒欲求を感じる。
— Drinking etiquette. Rules for how to behave while drinking.
日本の飲酒マナーを学ぶ。
— Amount of alcohol consumed.
一日の飲酒量を記録する。
— Drinking restrictions, often for medical or work reasons.
医師から飲酒制限を受けている。
— Drinking allowed. Often seen on signs for parks or events.
このエリアは飲酒可です。
Idioms & Expressions
— Sake is the best of all medicines. Used to justify moderate drinking.
酒は百薬の長というが、飲み過ぎは良くない。
Proverb— To drink together and bond. Literally 'to pour for each other.'
久しぶりに旧友と酒を酌み交わした。
Literary— To be overcome by alcohol. To behave badly or lose control due to drinking.
酒を飲んでも、酒に飲まれるな。
Common— Snacks to go with alcohol. Also used metaphorically for a topic of conversation.
彼の失敗談が酒の肴になった。
Common— To drink out of desperation or to drown one's sorrows.
失恋してやけ酒を飲んだ。
Informal— To get a bit tipsy or for alcohol to start taking effect.
酒が入ると、彼は饒舌になる。
Neutral— A place where people are drinking; a drinking party.
酒の席での失礼を詫びる。
Formal— To be a bad drunk; to have a bad habit when drinking.
彼は酒癖が悪いので有名だ。
Informal— Bar hopping. Going from one 'ladder' (bar) to another.
昨夜は三軒も梯子酒をした。
Common— Drinking while viewing cherry blossoms.
公園で花見酒を楽しむ。
CulturalWord Family
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
Summary
飲酒する is the 'official' way to say 'drink alcohol.' Use it for rules, health, and law. Example: 「健康のために飲酒を控える」 (Refrain from drinking for health).
- 飲酒する (inshu suru) is the formal Japanese verb for drinking alcohol, used primarily in legal, medical, and professional contexts rather than casual social settings.
- It consists of the kanji for 'drink' and 'alcohol,' making it a Sino-Japanese (Kango) compound that functions as a suru-verb in formal reports.
- Commonly seen in phrases like 'inshu unten' (drunk driving) and 'miseinen inshu' (underage drinking), it emphasizes the objective act of consumption.
- B1 learners should use this word when filling out forms or writing formal essays, but stick to 'o-sake wo nomu' with friends.
Example
飲酒運転は絶対にやめましょう。
Related Content
This Word in Other Languages
More health words
しばらく
B1For a while, for some time.
異変がある
B1To have an unusual change or abnormality.
異常な
B1Abnormal; unusual; irregular.
擦り傷
B1Scratch, graze, abrasion.
吸収する
B1To absorb.
禁酒
B1Abstinence from alcohol; the act of refraining from alcohol.
痛む
A2to hurt; to ache
鍼灸
B1Acupuncture and moxibustion; traditional Chinese medicine treatments.
急性的
B1Acute.
急性な
B1Acute
