Recognize 飲 in everyday Japanese. Start with its meaning, to drink; take medicine, then learn to read it in whole words such as 飲む and 飲み物.

The idea

Kanji may have Japanese-origin and Chinese-origin readings; learn each with its word. Compare 飲む（のむ） and 飲み物（のみもの）. 飲 has 12 strokes; follow their order in the linked KanjiVG diagram.

Patterns to compare
Japanese wordReadingMeaning
飲むのむto drink; take medicine
飲み物のみものdrink; beverage
飲みますのみますdrink (polite)

Examples

  • 午後ごごに会社かいしゃでお茶ちゃを飲のみます。I drink tea at the office in the afternoon.
  • 飲のみ物ものはお茶ちゃです。The drink is tea.
  • 毎朝まいあさ、水みずを飲のみます。I drink water every morning.
  • 昨日きのう、友達ともだちとお茶ちゃを飲のみました。Yesterday I had tea with a friend.
  • 今いま、父ちちは薬くすりを飲のんでいます。My father is taking medicine now.
  • 水みずをゆっくり飲のみます。I drink the water slowly.

Read-aloud uses a synthetic Japanese voice available on your device. Voice quality and availability vary; it does not assess your pronunciation.

Watch out

飲む also describes taking medicine; its て-form is 飲んで. Compare the shape of 飲 with 飯 so you do not confuse them.

Try it yourself

  1. Write the reading of 飲む in hiragana.

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    のむ

    飲む is read のむ; it means to drink; take medicine. Learn the reading as part of this word.

  2. Write the reading of 飲み物 in hiragana.

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    のみもの

    飲み物 is read のみもの; it means drink; beverage. Learn the reading as part of this word.

  3. Fill in the missing kanji: ＿み物（のみもの）.

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    飲

    飲 completes 飲み物, read のみもの; the word means drink; beverage.

Use it today

Cover the table, write 飲 from memory, and read 飲む and 飲み物 aloud. Then check the readings and meanings.