吸う・喫う|すうsuu[0]heiban (flat)
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Which spelling to use
吸う吸う（すう） is the most common form and the one beginners should use for this word.
喫う喫う（すう） is a rarely used written variant of 吸う（すう）; learners will seldom need to choose it.
Definitions
- godan verb, transitive verbto breathe in; to inhale; to smoke (a cigarette, etc.)
- godan verb, transitive verbto suck; to sip; to slurp
- godan verb, transitive verbto absorb; to soak up
- godan verb, transitive verbto kiss
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 吸う（すう） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 吸います（すいます） |
| Negative (nai) | 吸わない（すわない） |
| polite (masen) | 吸いません（すいません） |
| classical zu / nu | 吸わず・吸わぬ（すわず・すわぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 吸った（すった） |
| polite (mashita) | 吸いました（すいました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 吸わなかった（すわなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 吸いませんでした（すいませんでした） |
| Te form | 吸って（すって） |
| Potential | 吸える（すえる） |
| Passive | 吸われる（すわれる） |
| Causative | 吸わせる（すわせる） |
| Causative passive | 吸わせられる・吸わされる（すわせられる・すわされる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 吸えば（すえば） |
| tara | 吸ったら（すったら） |
| Volitional | 吸おう（すおう） |
| polite (mashou) | 吸いましょう（すいましょう） |
| Imperative | 吸え（すえ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym吸い込むすいこむNeutralEmphasizes drawing something in — 「息を吸い込む」 — and can be figurative, as being swallowed up by a crowd or darkness; 「吸う」 does not stress the inward motion.
- Synonym吸引きゅういんWrittenWritten-leaning term for suction or drawing things in; also attraction, as in 「吸引力」. 「吸う」 is the everyday verb.
- Synonym吸入きゅうにゅうWrittenWritten-leaning term for inhaling gas, smoke or medicine, as in the medical 「酸素吸入」; 「吸う」 is the plain everyday verb.
- Synonym吸収きゅうしゅうWrittenWritten-leaning: absorbing nutrients or knowledge, as in 「知識を吸収する」. 「吸う」 is mostly the physical act of breathing in or sucking, with metaphors like 「甘い汁を吸う」.
- Synonym吸い上げるすいあげるNeutralDrawing liquid upward; figuratively, siphoning off profits or taking in other people's opinions and wishes.
- Synonym吸い取るすいとるNeutralSucking liquid up or dry; figuratively, squeezing money out of people without working for it.
- Synonym吸い入れるすいいれるWrittenWritten-style word for drawing in air or liquid; very rare, and in everyday speech 「吸い込む」 is the natural choice.
- Related喫煙きつえんWrittenFormal, written word for smoking tobacco, common in signs like 「喫煙所」 and 「喫煙席」; 「吸う」 also covers breathing in and sucking.
- RelatedふかすCasualColloquial: puffing out smoke you have drawn in, or revving an engine; also putting on airs. The focus is on sending the smoke out, not taking it in.
- Related吸気きゅうきWrittenMedical and mechanical term for taking in air, as in 「吸気口」; mostly in specialist or technical contexts — in everyday speech say 「吸う」.
- RelatedすするCasualColloquial: to slurp audibly, as in 「ラーメンを啜る」, and to sniff back a runny nose; 「吸う」 does not imply the noise.
For breathing in or smoking, 「吸う」 is the default. Use 「吸い込む」 to stress drawing something in, 「喫煙」 for smoking in formal notices, 「吸入」 for inhaling gas or medicine, 「吸収」 for absorbing knowledge, and 「啜る」 for slurping audibly.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also
