Meaning

Primary

Drinker

Alternative

Alcohol Lover

Word Type

noun, な adjective

Explanation

We have alcohol and 好き (like). When you like alcohol a lot, you're probably a drinker, or at least an alcohol lover.

酒好き literally means "someone who likes alcohol," and while they may drink a lot, the focus is on their enjoyment rather than excess. Compared to 酒飲み, it sounds friendlier and less critical, especially when you add the polite , as in お酒好き.

Reading

さけずき
  • Kyoko
    (Tokyo accent, female)
  • Kenichi
    (Tokyo accent, male)

Explanation

This word uses kun'yomi readings, as you can probably guess from the hiragana sticking out at the end. You should know the readings of these as separate words already (from お酒 and 好き), which means all you need to pay attention to is the rendaku: すき changes to ずき.

Context

Common Word Combinations

  • 酒好きがいる

    there is a drinker

    酒好きがえらぶ

    a drinker chooses, drinker's choice

    酒好きが集まる

    the drinkers gather

Context Sentences

私の彼氏は酒好きです。

My boyfriend is a drinker.

あの酒好き、今日も朝から引っかけてやがるぜ。

That alcoholic is drinking in the morning again today.

私の妻は酒好きなので、アル中にならないか心配だ。

My wife is a drinker and I'm worried about her becoming an alcoholic.

Kanji Composition