A1 verb Neutral

飲む

/nomɯ/

To swallow a liquid or medicine. It is also used in Japan for things like soup or even smoking (archaic usage).

Examples

3 of 5
1

冷たい水を飲みます。

I drink cold water.

2

お酒を飲みすぎないでください。

Please do not drink too much alcohol.

3

何か飲む?

Want something to drink?

Word Family

Noun
飲み物
Verb
飲む
💡

Memory Tip

Nomu sounds like 'No More' - what you say when you've had enough to drink.

Quick Quiz

薬を( )ましたか。

Correct!

The correct answer is: のみ

Examples

1

冷たい水を飲みます。

everyday

I drink cold water.

2

お酒を飲みすぎないでください。

formal

Please do not drink too much alcohol.

3

何か飲む?

informal

Want something to drink?

4

薬を飲む時間を記録する。

academic

Record the time of taking (drinking) medicine.

5

取引先とお茶を飲みます。

business

Drink tea with a client.

Word Family

Noun
飲み物
Verb
飲む

Common Collocations

ビールを飲む to drink beer
薬を飲む to take medicine
一気に飲む to drink in one gulp
コップで飲む to drink from a cup
ゆっくり飲む to drink slowly

Common Phrases

飲み放題

all-you-can-drink

一杯飲む

to have a drink

薬を飲む

to take (drink) medicine

Often Confused With

飲む vs 食べる

In Japanese, medicine (pill form) is 'drunk' (nomu), not 'eaten' (taberu).

📝

Usage Notes

Always use 'nomu' for liquids, pills, and soup (if not eating the solids with chopsticks).

⚠️

Common Mistakes

English speakers often want to say 'kusuri o toru' for taking medicine, but in Japanese, it must be 'kusuri o nomu'.

💡

Memory Tip

Nomu sounds like 'No More' - what you say when you've had enough to drink.

📖

Word Origin

From the root 'numu', related to the sound of swallowing.

Grammar Patterns

〜を飲む 〜を飲みに行く
🌍

Cultural Context

Drinking social culture (Nomikai) is very important in Japanese business and social circles.

Quick Quiz

薬を( )ましたか。

Correct!

The correct answer is: のみ

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