宅飲み
Meaning: Drinking at home instead of going out to bars or izakayas, often with friends bringing their own drinks and snacks.
A compound of 宅 (home) and 飲み (drinking), 宅飲み became especially popular as an alternative to expensive nights out. It surged during the COVID-19 pandemic when bars were closed or restricted. The appeal lies in being cheaper, more relaxed, and not having to worry about last trains — making it a practical and enjoyable option.
Examples
- 今日は外出るの面倒だし宅飲みにしよう。 今天懒得出门,在家喝吧。Hoy me da pereza salir, así que bebamos en casa.오늘은 나가기 귀찮으니까 집에서 마시자.
- 宅飲みだと終電気にしなくていいから楽だよね。 在家喝不用赶末班车,多轻松啊。Beber en casa es más cómodo porque no tienes que preocuparte por el último tren.집에서 마시면 막차 걱정 안 해도 돼서 편하지.
- コロナ以降、宅飲みの頻度がめっちゃ上がった。 新冠以来,在家喝酒的频率大幅增加了。Desde el COVID, la frecuencia de beber en casa ha aumentado muchísimo.코로나 이후로 집에서 마시는 빈도가 엄청 늘었어.
Pronunciation
/ta.ku.no.mi/
Usage Guide
Context: friends, social planning, social media
Tone: casual, practical
✓ Do Say
- 今日は宅飲みにしない?持ち寄りで。 (Want to drink at home today? Everyone brings something.)今天在家喝怎么样?各自带点东西来。¿Bebemos en casa hoy? Cada uno trae algo.오늘은 집에서 마시지 않을래? 각자 가져오는 걸로.
- 宅飲みのほうがコスパいいよね。 (Home drinking has better cost performance.)在家喝性价比更高吧。Beber en casa tiene mejor relación calidad-precio, ¿verdad?집에서 마시는 게 가성비 좋잖아.
✗ Don't Say
- ビジネスの接待を「宅飲みで」と提案するのは非常識 (Suggesting 'let's do it at home' for a business entertainment event is inappropriate)在商务宴请时提议'去家里喝吧'是很失礼的Proponer «hagámoslo en casa» para una cena de negocios con clientes es totalmente inapropiado비즈니스 접대를 '집에서 합시다'라고 제안하는 것은 상식에 어긋난다
Common Mistakes
- Thinking 宅飲み always means drinking alone — it usually implies inviting friends over, though solo home drinking also qualifies
Origin & History
Compound of 宅 (home) and 飲み (drinking). Has been used since the 2000s but saw a massive surge during the COVID-19 pandemic (2020-2021) when going out was restricted.
Cultural Context
Era: 2000s term, surged during COVID-19 pandemic (2020-2021)
Generation: All ages (20s-40s most common)
Social background: Universal
Regional notes: Used across all of Japan. Became a cultural phenomenon during the pandemic era.
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