酒|さけsake[0]heiban (flat)

1. nounalcohol; sake
   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.

• SynonymアルコールNeutralMeans alcohol as a substance, but also alcoholic drinks generally, with a scientific or euphemistic tone; also alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• Synonym酒類しゅるいWrittenWritten-style collective term for alcoholic drinks, as in 「酒類販売」; typical of legal and business contexts.
• Synonym清酒せいしゅWrittenRefers to clear, filtered Japanese sake; seen on bottle labels and in formal settings.
• Synonym日本酒にほんしゅNeutralMeans Japanese sake specifically, as opposed to beer or wine; 「酒」 can cover all kinds of alcohol.
• Synonymお酒おさけCasualA polite way of saying 「酒」, as in 「お酒を飲む」; very common in conversation, where plain 「酒」 sounds more blunt.
• SynonymリカーNeutralA loanword that mostly means liquor, i.e. distilled spirits; familiar from shop names like 「リカーショップ」.
• Synonymアルコール飲料アルコールいんりょうWrittenA formal term for alcoholic beverages, found mainly in explanations and statistics.
• Related般若湯はんにゃとうCasualMonks' cant for sake, used with a humorous touch; in everyday speech people just say 「酒」.

「酒」 is the default for alcohol in general or Japanese sake; say 「お酒」 to be polite. Use 「日本酒」 for Japanese sake specifically, 「酒類」 in legal or business writing, 「アルコール」 for scientific or euphemistic contexts.

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

1. さけ。エタノールを含ふくみ、飲のむと酩酊めいてい感かんを得えることのできる飲料いんりょう。アルコール飲料あるこーるいんりょう。
2. （狭義きょうぎ）日本酒にほんしゅ。