飲み放題（のみほうだい、nomihoudai）
- all-you-can-drink

The Japanese word 飲み放題, pronounced のみほうだい (nomihoudai), is a term that refers to an "all-you-can-drink" or "open bar" arrangement. It typically means that for a fixed price, a customer can drink as much as they want from a pre-selected menu of drinks for a certain period of time. This is a very common feature in restaurants, bars, and izakayas (Japanese pubs) in Japan. The specific drinks available and the duration of the 飲み放題 will vary depending on the establishment. It’s a popular option because it can be a cost-effective way to enjoy drinks, especially for those who consume a lot.

⚫︎ 飲み放題 にしますか？ Translation: Would you like the all-you-can-drink option? ⚫︎ 今夜は 飲み放題 で盛り上がりましょう！ Translation: Let's have a blast with the all-you-can-drink tonight! ⚫︎ 飲み放題 は2時間です。 Translation: The all-you-can-drink is for 2 hours.

You use 飲み放題 when you want to describe or inquire about an all-you-can-drink option. ⚫︎When ordering drinks at a restaurant or bar, you might be asked if you'd like the 飲み放題. ⚫︎You can use it to suggest an all-you-can-drink plan to friends. ⚫︎When talking about your plans for the night, you might mention that you’ll be attending a party or event with 飲み放題.

飲み放題 is most commonly written in kanji and hiragana. ⚫︎ Kanji: 飲み放題 ⚫︎ Hiragana: のみほうだい There are no other significantly different ways to write this word. The okurigana (送りがな - hiragana that follows a kanji) "ほうだい" is consistently written this way.

There aren't many direct synonyms for 飲み放題 because it is a very specific term. However, you could sometimes use: ⚫︎ フリードリンク (furii dorinku) - free drinks. This term is used more in the context of events and parties.

There is no direct antonym for 飲み放題. The opposite concept is typically expressed by simply not having an all-you-can-drink option. Some indirect antonyms might be: ⚫︎ 単品 (tanpin) - individual order (meaning you pay per drink).

友達と居酒屋に行って、飲み放題 を注文しました。 ・Translation: I went to an izakaya with my friends and ordered the all-you-can-drink. ・Explanation: This sentence describes a common situation: going to a Japanese pub and choosing the 飲み放題 option.

パーティーで飲み放題 が付いているので、たくさん飲めそうです。 ・Translation: There's an all-you-can-drink at the party, so I think I'll be able to drink a lot. ・Explanation: This sentence highlights the appeal of 飲み放題 at a party setting.

The word is formed from the verb 飲む (nomu - to drink) and the suffix 放題 (houdai). 放題 generally means "as much as one likes" or "to one's heart's content." Therefore, 飲み放題 literally means "drink as much as you like" or "all-you-can-drink." The combination of 飲む and 放題 elegantly and directly describes the concept.