What does it mean word for word?
The phrase 何か飲みますか？ literally means "Will you drink something?"
Which one should you use?
While 何か飲みますか？ is the standard polite form, other variations exist depending on the level of formality. For a formal way to ask "What would you like to drink?", you can use お飲み物は何がいいですか？ If you want to ask "What do you want to drink?" in a formal setting, use 何を飲みたいですか？ In informal contexts, 何が飲みたい？ is used for "What do you want to drink?", while the very informal 何飲む？ can be used to mean "What drink?"
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The default polite form is 何か飲みますか？ In high-end restaurants or when serving a very important guest, a more honorific form is used instead of the default polite form, such as 何をお飲みになりますか？ Use お飲み物は何がいいですか？ or 何を飲みたいですか？ for formal situations. For casual settings, use the informal 何が飲みたい？ or the very informal 何飲む？
How does it change in a sentence?
When using the word for drink, 飲み物, adding the prefix お shows respect towards the person being addressed.
How do you pronounce it?
nanika nomimasu ka?
Did you know?
- When asked 何か飲みますか？ at a Japanese home, it is customary to decline the first offer politely. Accepting immediately can be seen as too greedy, so guests often say 'no' before eventually accepting on the second or third offer.
- In formal settings, the verb 飲む 'nomu' (to drink) is often replaced by the honorific 召し上がる 'meshiagaru'. This single verb covers both eating and drinking, treating the act of consuming as a singular respectful gesture.
- While the phrase asks what you want to drink, in a professional setting, it is often a 'social lubricant' used to signal that a formal meeting is transitioning into a more relaxed discussion.
Examples in context
- お茶など、何か飲みますか？Ocha nado, nanika nomimasu ka?Would you like something to drink, like tea?
Example conversation
Yota is hosting Misaki at his house for the first time.
- 陽太 Yota美咲さん、何か飲みますか？Misaki-san, nanika nomimasu ka?Misaki, would you like something to drink?
- 美咲 Misaki冷たいお茶をお願いします。Tsumetai ocha o onegaishimasu.Cold tea, please.
- 陽太 Yotaはい、すぐにお持ちします。Hai, sugu ni omochi shimasu.Yes, I will bring it right away.
- 美咲 Misakiありがとうございます。Arigatou gozaimasu.Thank you very much.
