日本酒（にほんしゅ、nihonshu）
- sake

The word 日本酒, pronounced にほんしゅ (nihonshu), translates directly to "Japanese sake" or "Japanese rice wine." It is a type of alcoholic beverage made from fermented rice, water, yeast, and koji mold. Unlike other types of alcoholic beverages, 日本酒 is brewed, not distilled. It's an integral part of Japanese culture and cuisine, enjoyed both domestically and internationally. The term often encompasses a wide variety of flavors and styles, ranging from dry to sweet, light to rich, and clear to cloudy. The quality and characteristics of a 日本酒 vary widely based on the rice used, the polishing ratio, and the brewing process.

⚫︎日本酒を一杯ください。 Translation: Please give me a glass of sake. ⚫︎ 彼は日本酒が好きです。 Translation: He likes sake. ⚫︎ このレストランは様々な種類の日本酒を提供しています。 Translation: This restaurant offers various types of sake.

You use 日本酒 in conversation when referring to the alcoholic beverage made from rice. It can be used to order it at a restaurant or bar, to discuss its flavors, to talk about its pairing with food, or simply to mention your preference for it. You can also use variations such as 日本酒 (the noun) or describe the state of having enjoyed 日本酒 such as 日本酒を飲んだ (I drank sake).

日本酒 is typically written in kanji as 日本酒. The reading is にほんしゅ in hiragana. There is no other common way to write this word. The okurigana is standard, with no variations.

There are no direct synonyms for 日本酒 in Japanese that have the exact same meaning, as the term is quite specific. However, depending on context, you might refer to different grades or types of 日本酒: ⚫︎ 清酒 (seishu): This is the official legal term for sake, meaning "clear alcohol." ⚫︎ 地酒 (jizake): This refers to local or regional sake. ⚫︎ 純米酒 (junmaishu): This indicates sake made only from rice, water, and koji mold. ⚫︎ 吟醸酒 (ginjōshu): Refers to a premium sake that has been polished to a high degree.

While there are no direct antonyms, since it's a specific type of alcohol, you could contrast 日本酒 with other types of alcoholic beverages: ⚫︎ ビール (bīru): Beer ⚫︎ ワイン (wain): Wine ⚫︎ 焼酎 (shōchū): Shochu ⚫︎ ウイスキー (uisukī): Whiskey

今夜は美味しい《日本酒を飲みましょう。》 ・Translation: Let's drink some delicious sake tonight. ・Explanation: This sentence suggests an intention to enjoy 日本酒 at a social gathering or meal.

そのレストランは《日本酒の種類が豊富で、おすすめですよ。》 ・Translation: That restaurant has a wide variety of sake, and it's recommended. ・Explanation: This sentence is an advice to enjoy the varieties of 日本酒 at the mentioned restaurant.

The word 日本酒 is a combination of two kanji: 日本 (nihon), meaning "Japan," and 酒 (shu), meaning "alcohol" or "sake." The term simply means "Japanese sake" and reflects the origin of the beverage. There is no other etymology of the word, and it originated from the beverage itself.