宅飲み

• Reading: たくのみ
• Romaji: takunomi
• Kanji breakdown: 宅 (home/residence) + 飲み (drinking) → drinking at home
• Pronunciation: /ta.ku.no.mi/

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

1. 今日は外出るの面倒だし宅飲みにしよう。 Going out is too much hassle today, so let's just drink at home.
2. 宅飲みだと終電気にしなくていいから楽だよね。 Drinking at home is so much easier since you don't have to worry about the last train.
3. コロナ以降、宅飲みの頻度がめっちゃ上がった。 Since COVID, the frequency of home drinking sessions has gone way up.

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.)
• 宅飲みのほうがコスパいいよね。 (Home drinking has better cost performance.)

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)

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.