バー
bā[ba̠ː]
In Japanese, the English word "bar" can be translated in several ways depending on the style of establishment, with the default form being バー (bā). Wiktionary also lists 居酒屋 (izakaya) and パブ (pabu).
Meaning: business licensed to sell intoxicating beverages (noun)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| バー | bā | [ba̠ː] (narrow) |
| 居酒屋 | izakaya | [iza̠ka̠ja̠] (narrow) |
| パブ | pabu | [pa̠bɯ̟] (narrow) |
| 飲み屋 | nomiya | [no̞mʲija̠] (narrow) |
| 酒場 | sakaba | [sa̠ka̠ba̠] (narrow) |
The term refers to a business licensed to sell intoxicating beverages.
Which one should you use?
The choice of word depends on the atmosphere and style of the establishment. バー (bā) typically refers to a Western-style bar, often a quiet establishment focused on cocktails or spirits. If you are specifically referring to a British-style pub, use パブ (pabu). For a more traditional or literary way to say "drinking place" or "tavern", use 酒場 (sakaba). Finally, 飲み屋 (nomiya) is a colloquial way to refer to any drinking establishment, often used when talking about going out for drinks in a general sense.
How do you pronounce it?
bā
When do people say it?
When enjoying drinks, people often say Kanpai! (乾杯!) to say cheers.
Did you know?
- Depending on the context, バー can be a doublet of バール (bāru), which in Japanese refers specifically to a crowbar or pry bar rather than a place to drink.
- In a Japanese bar, the act of 'Kanpai!' often involves clicking glasses, but it is polite to ensure your glass is lower than that of a superior or elder.
- In a traditional 居酒屋, it is common to order a 'drink' first and then let the staff bring a variety of shared appetizers, a custom known as 'otoshi'.
Examples in context
- トムはバーにいた。Tom was at the bar.This sentence shows how to say someone was at the bar using バー.Tatoeba #9462184 by small_snow, translation #8401392 by CK
- バーでお待ちになりますか。Would you like to wait in the bar?This sentence is useful for asking if someone would like to wait in the bar using バー.Tatoeba #198421 by bunbuku, translation #35612 by CK
- 一番近いバーはどこですか？Where's the nearest bar?This sentence is useful for asking where the nearest bar is using バー.Tatoeba #8218539 by Tanikaz, translation #8215791 by CK
- 22 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Daito and Yui are deciding where to go after work.
- 大翔 Hiroto今日は静かなバーに行こう。Kyou wa shizukana baa ni ikou.Let's go to a quiet bar today.
- 結衣 Yuiいいですね。おすすめのバーはありますか？Ii desu ne. Osusume no baa wa arimasu ka?That sounds good. Do you have a bar you recommend?
- 大翔 Hiroto駅の近くにいいバーがあるよ。Eki no chikaku ni ii baa ga aru yo.There is a good bar near the station.
- 結衣 Yuiじゃあ、そこに行きましょう！Jaa, soko ni ikimashou!Then, let's go there!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “bar” translations and entries バー, 居酒屋, パブ, 飲み屋, 酒場, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries バー, パブ, 居酒屋, 飲み屋, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
