How to say "alcohol" in Japanese

• 酒さけJLPT N3approx.Common
  nounAlcohol as a drink: alcoholic beverages in general, and specifically Japanese sake. The word to use when talking about drinking — whether someone drinks, offering or refusing a drink, ordering one.
  僕ぼくは酒さけも煙草たばこもやらないんだ。↗

  I neither drink nor smoke.
• アルコールJLPT N4approx.Common
  nounAlcohol as a chemical substance — the sense found in science and medicine, such as disinfectants. In formal or medical contexts it also refers to alcoholic drinks, where it can sound technical.
  このビールはアルコール分ぶんが５％だ。↗

  This beer contains 5% alcohol.

Use 酒 when talking about alcoholic drinks, including Japanese sake itself; use 「アルコール」 for alcohol as a chemical substance, and for alcoholic drinks in formal, medical, or scientific contexts.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 酒さけalcohol
• アルコールalcohol
• 酒ささalcohol
• お酒おさけalcohol
• 御酒ごしゅalcohol
• 天の美禄てんのびろくalcohol
• きちがい水きちがいみずalcohol
• 酒しゅalcohol
• 酒さかalcohol
• 酒精しゅせい(ethyl) alcohol
• 三水さんずいalcohol
• 気付け薬きつけぐすりalcohol
• 美禄びろくalcohol
• 玉箒たまははきliquor