Translation and Meaning of: 飲む - nomu

The Japanese word 飲む[のむ] is an essential verb for anyone learning the language. Its main meaning is "to drink," but its use goes beyond the simple act of consuming liquids. In this article, we will explore everything from writing and pronunciation to cultural curiosities and practical memorization tips. If you want to understand how Japanese people use this word in their daily lives, keep reading!

In addition to being a common term in everyday conversations, 飲む appears frequently in expressions and social contexts. Here at Suki Nihongo, we aim to provide accurate and useful information for Japanese language learners. Let's uncover the details of this word, including its origin, variations in usage, and how it appears in animes and other media.

Meaning and use of 飲む in modern Japanese

飲む is a verb that primarily means "to drink," but its use can be broader than it seems. It applies to liquids in general, such as water, tea, or coffee, but it is also used in contexts like taking medicine (薬を飲む) or even "swallowing" something metaphorically. This versatility makes it an indispensable word in basic vocabulary.

In everyday Japanese, 飲む is extremely common. Phrases like お茶を飲みます (I will have tea) or ビールを飲みたい (I want to drink beer) are frequently heard. It is worth noting that, unlike in Portuguese, in Japanese, different verbs are not used for "to drink" and "to have" – 飲む covers both meanings.

The origin and writing of the kanji 飲

The kanji 飲 is composed of two main elements. The radical 食 (food) on the left indicates its relation to eating, while the right side features the component 欠, which originally represented a person with an open mouth. Together, they form the idea of "bringing something to the mouth to ingest," which makes perfect sense for the verb "to drink."

According to the Kangorin dictionary, this kanji was already used in ancient Chinese with the same basic meaning. When it was incorporated into Japanese, it retained its essence but gained the kun'yomi reading のむ for use in native vocabulary. The way we write the kanji today is the result of centuries of evolution in calligraphy.

Tips for memorizing and using 飲む correctly

An effective way to remember 飲む is to associate the kanji with the action of drinking. Note that the radical 食 appears in several words related to food, such as 食事 (meal) or 食べる (to eat). This visual connection helps to reinforce the meaning. Another tip is to practice with simple everyday sentences, like 水を飲む (drink water).

For those who enjoy animes and dramas, pay attention when characters use 飲む. In scenes at bars or restaurants, it's common to hear variations like 飲もう (let's drink) or 飲みすぎた (I drank too much). This exposure to real language usage makes it easier to naturally assimilate the vocabulary.

Drinking in Japanese culture and society

In Japan, drinking goes beyond the physical act – it is an important social element. Expressions like 飲み会 (drinking parties with colleagues) show how 飲む is connected to social interaction. On these occasions, it is common to see people drinking together to strengthen bonds, a custom known as 乾杯 (kanpai).

Interestingly, in formal contexts, the Japanese often use 召し上がる (meshiagaru), which is the honorific verb for "to eat" and "to drink," instead of 飲む. This nuance is important for those who wish to speak Japanese politely. Among friends, 飲む is perfectly acceptable and sounds natural in any conversation.

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Verb conjugation of 飲む

• 飲む - Infinitive base form
• 飲みます - polite form
• 飲まない - negative form
• 飲みました - past form
• 飲める - potential form
• 飲もう conditional form
• 飲んで - imperative form
• 飲もうとしている - Continuous form

Synonyms and similar words

• 飲み込む (nomikomu) - To swallow
• 飲み込み (nomikomi) - Act of swallowing
• 飲み込める (nomikomeru) - To be able to swallow
• 飲み込まれる (nomikomareru) - Be swallowed
• 飲み干す (nomihosu) - Drink to the end
• 飲むこと (nomu koto) - Drinking act
• 飲む水 (nomu mizu) - Water to drink
• 飲む量 (nomu ryō) - Amount to be drunk

飲む

Romaji: nomu
Kana: のむ
Type: verb
L: jlpt-n5

Translation / Meaning: to drink

Meaning in English: to drink

Definition: Ingest liquids by mouth.

Example Sentences - (飲む) nomu

See below some example sentences:

私は茶碗でお茶を飲みます。

Watashi wa chawan de ocha wo nomimasu

I drink tea in a bowl.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case "I"
• 茶碗 (chawan) - noun meaning "tea bowl"
• で (de) - particle that indicates the means or instrument used for the action, in this case "with the tea bowl"
• お茶 (ocha) - noun meaning "tea"
• を (wo) - particle that indicates the direct object of the action, in this case "drinking tea"
• 飲みます (nomimasu) - verb meaning "to drink"

私は毎晩ビールを飲みます。

Watashi wa maiban biiru o nomimasu

I drink beer every night.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - particle that marks the topic of the sentence
• 毎晩 (maiban) - adverb that means "every night"
• ビール (biiru) - The noun that means "beer" is "cerveja".
• を (wo) - Particle that marks the direct object of the sentence
• 飲みます (nomimasu) - verb meaning "to drink"

私たちはランチの合間にコーヒーを飲んだ。

Watashitachi wa ranchi no aima ni kōhī o nonda

We drink coffee during the lunch break.

We drink coffee between lunch.

• 私たちは - 「私たち」
• ランチ - "Lunch" in Japanese
• の - Possessive particle in Japanese
• 合間に - "Break" or "pause" in Japanese
• コーヒー - "Coffee" in Japanese
• を - Direct Object Particle in Japanese
• 飲んだ - "Drinking in the past tense in Japanese

茶の間でお茶を飲みましょう。

Chano ma de ocha wo nomimashou

Let's have tea in the tea room.

Let's drink tea in the tea room.

• 茶の間 (chano ma) - Tea room
• で (de) - in
• お茶 (ocha) - tea
• を (wo) - object particle
• 飲みましょう (nomimashou) - let's drink