Nuance & Usage
飲む is the standard word for "to drink." It is also used for taking medicine (薬を飲む). In casual male speech, the rougher 飲む can carry connotations of drinking alcohol: 飲みに行く (nomi ni iku — go out drinking). The honorific form is 召し上がる (meshiagaru), shared with 食べる. Common compound: 飲み物 (nomimono — a drink/beverage), 飲み会 (nomikai — drinking party).
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes use 食べる for medicine, but in Japanese you always "drink" medicine: 薬を飲む, even for pills. Also, 飲む is a godan verb, so the て-form is 飲んで (nonde), not 飲みて. Another error: confusing 飲む (to drink) with 呑む (same pronunciation, literary/archaic kanji sometimes used for alcohol).
Example Sentences (3)
毎朝コーヒーを飲みます。
まいあさこーひーをのみます。
I drink coffee every morning.
何か冷たいものを飲みたいです。
なにかつめたいものをのみたいです。
I want to drink something cold.
今夜、飲みに行きませんか？
こんや、のみにいきませんか？
Would you like to go out for drinks tonight?
Quick Quiz
Quick Quiz
N54 questionsTest your knowledge of 飲む with 4 different question types.
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