How to say “sake” in Japanese

お酒
おさけosake
nounJLPT N5Food & drink
The short answer

“Sake” in Japanese is お酒 (おさけ), pronounced osake.

Pronunciation

The word has 3 beats (morae), each about the same length. Tap a syllable to hear it, or play the whole word:

How to use it

Can mean Japanese sake specifically or alcohol in general. On menus, sake is usually listed as (nihonshu).

Example sentences

  • お酒を飲みますか。おさけをのみますか。
    Do you drink alcohol?
  • お酒は飲めません。おさけはのめません。
    I can’t drink alcohol.
MeaningJapaneseReading
Japanese sake日本酒にほんしゅ nihonshu

Quick practice

Test yourself0/3
  1. What does {{お酒}} mean?

  2. How do you read {{お酒}}?

  3. Which word means “noodles”?

FAQ

How do you say sake in Japanese?

Sake in Japanese is お酒 (おさけ), pronounced “osake”.

How do you write sake in Japanese?

It's written お酒 with kanji, or おさけ in hiragana. Both are read osake.

Is お酒 on the JLPT?

Yes. お酒 (osake) is a common word at JLPT N5 level, so it's worth learning early.