How to Say “I Drink Coffee” in Japanese

By •
コーヒーを飲みます
kōhī o nomimasu
In Japanese, 'I drink coffee' is said as コーヒーを飲みます (kōhī o nomimasu).
This phrase is used to express that you consume coffee as a general habit or in the present moment. In Japanese, the subject 'I' is often omitted if it is clear from the context that you are talking about yourself. You can also say Watashi wa kōhii o nomimasu if you wish to emphasize the subject 'I'. You can modify the phrase to express quantity, such as Kōhii o takusan nomimasu (I drink a lot of coffee) or Watashi wa kōhii o sukoshi nomimasu (I drink a little coffee). To ask someone else if they drink coffee, you can use Anata wa kōhii o nomimasu ka?

What does it mean word for word?

The phrase is composed of コーヒー (coffee), the particle を (o) which acts as an object marker to mark coffee as the direct object and 飲みます (nomimasu), which is the polite form of the verb 'to drink'.

Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?

The form コーヒーを飲みます is the standard polite way to express this habit to strangers or superiors. For a more casual setting, such as speaking with friends or family, you can use the dictionary form コーヒーを飲む or Kōhii nomu. There is also a more casual and masculine way to say this: Ore wa kōhii nomu.

How does it change in a sentence?

The particle を (o) is used to mark the object of the action. The verb can appear in the polite form 飲みます (nomimasu) or the dictionary form 飲む (nomu), which is used in casual speech.

How do you pronounce it?

kōhī o nomimasu

Did you know?

  • If you are at a cafe and want to order a coffee, saying コーヒーを飲みます might actually sound like you are making a strange declaration of your habits rather than a request. To order, it is more natural to use the verb 注文します (chūmon shimasu, to order) or simply name the item with お願いします (onegaishimasu, please).
  • In Japan, the word 飲みます (to drink) is also used for taking medicine, whereas English speakers would say 'take medicine'.
  • In many Japanese coffee shops, if you say you want 'hot' or 'ice' coffee, you use the English-derived words ホット (hotto) and アイス (aisu) rather than the native Japanese words for hot or cold.

Examples in context

  • コーヒーを飲みます。
    I drink coffee.
    This sentence is a simple statement of the phrase.
    Tatoeba #5070656 by 999yudai, translation #1000136 by Nihonkage
  • 私は毎朝コーヒーを飲みます。
    I drink coffee every morning.
    This sentence shows the phrase used to describe a morning habit.
    Tatoeba #10903704 by bunbuku, translation #6352530 by CK
  • 私はミルクを入れないで、コーヒーを飲みます。
    I drink coffee without adding milk.
    This sentence shows the phrase used when specifying how you drink your coffee.
    Tatoeba #10903743 by bunbuku, translation #10903745 by CK
  • 1 more sentence on Tatoeba

Example conversation

Two colleagues are chatting during a break at the office.

  1. 陽葵 Himari

    陽太さん、一緒に休憩しましょう。
    Yōta-san, issho ni kyūkei shimashō.
    Yota, let's take a break together.
  2. 陽太 Yota

    いいですね。私は今からコーヒーを飲みます。
    Ii desu ne. Watashi wa ima kara kōhī o nomimasu.
    That sounds good. I'm going to drink coffee now.
  3. 陽葵 Himari

    いいですね。私も一杯いただけますか。
    Ii desu ne. Watashi mo ippai itadakemasu ka.
    Nice. May I have a cup too?
  4. 陽太 Yota

    もちろんです。一緒に買いに行きましょう。
    Mochiron desu. Issho ni kai ni ikimashō.
    Of course. Let's go buy some together.

Sources

⭐Share⭐ to appreciate human effort 🙏
Shelby Linda
Shelby LindaHelp make this guide better. Spot a mistake, know another way to say it, or have an example from real life? Share it below.
guest
0 Comments
Newest
Oldest Most Voted
Scroll to Top