What does “nomu” mean in Japanese?
Native speakers say “nomu” to mean ‘to drink’ in Japanese. Perhaps, some Japanese learners know this verb as it is sometimes used in Japanese conversations. In this blog post, however, I will explain it together with its major conjugations. And also, I will explain how to use them through example sentences. My explanations would help Japanese learners use “nomu” more properly. Then, let’s get started!
Contents
- Definition and meaning of “nomu”
- Nomanai: the nai form of “nomu”
- Nomou: the volitional form of “nomu”
- Nomimasu: the masu form of “nomu”
- Nonda: the past tense form of “nomu”
- Nonde: the te form of “nomu”
- Nomeba: the ba form of “nomu”
- Summary
Definition and meaning of “nomu”
Let me start with the definition and meaning of “nomu”.
- nomu – 飲む (のむ) : a verb meaning ‘to drink’ in Japanese.
The definition and meaning are simple and clear. Then, let me explain how to use this verb through the example sentence below.
Example #1: how to say “drink” in Japanese
watashi wa maiasa mizu wo nomu – 私は毎朝水を飲む (わたしはまいあさみずをのむ)
I drink water every morning.
Below are the new words used in the example sentence.
- watashi – 私 (わたし) : a pronoun meaning ‘I’ in Japanese.
- wa – は : a binding particle working as a case marker or topic marker. In the example, this works after “watashi” to make the subject in the sentence.
- maiasa – 毎朝 (まいあさ) : a noun meaning ‘every morning’ in Japanese. This can also work as an adverb almost anywhere in a sentence. In the example, this works as an adverb in the middle of the sentence to say “every morning” in Japanese.
- mizu – 水 (みず) : a noun meaning ‘water’ in Japanese.
- wo – を : a case particle used to make the object word in a sentence. In the example, this is used after “mizu” to make the object in the sentence.
This is a typical usage of “nomu”. In the example, it works together with the case particle, “wo”, to have the object. When we want to mean ‘to drink’ in Japanese, anyway, this verb is always a very good option.
So far, I’ve explained the definition and meaning of “nomu” and how to use it through the example sentence. In the rest part of this blog post, I will explain its major conjugations. The first one is “nomanai”.
Nomanai: the nai form of “nomu”
Below are the definition and meaning of “nomanai”.
- nomanai – 飲まない (のまない) : the nai form of “nomu”, which means ‘not to drink’ in Japanese.
Grammatically, “nomanai” consists of the following two parts:
- noma – 飲ま (のま) : one conjugation of “nomu”. This can have a smooth connection with “nai”.
- nai – ない : an auxiliary verb used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to deny its meaning. Word orders in Japanese and English are different, but the role of this auxiliary verb is very similar to that of “not”.
From these two parts, we can understand that “nomanai” is literally the nai form of “nomu” and means ‘not to drink’ in Japanese. Then, let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.
Example #2: how to say “not drink” in Japanese
boku wa osake wo nomanai – 僕はお酒を飲まない (ぼくはおさけをのまない)
I don’t drink alcohol.
Below are the new words used in the example sentence.
- boku – 僕 (ぼく) : a pronoun meaning ‘I’ in Japanese. This is used mainly by boys and young males.
- osake – お酒 (おさけ) : the polite expression of “sake” which means ‘alcohol’ in Japanese.
This is a typical usage of “nomanai”. When we want to mean ‘not to drink’ in Japanese, this nai form is a very good option.
Nomou: the volitional form of “nomu”
Below are the definition and meaning of “nomou”.
- nomou – 飲もう (のもう) : the volitional form of “nomu”, which expresses volition to drink.
Grammatically, “nomou” consists of the following two parts:
- nomo – 飲も (のも) : one conjugation of “nomu”. This can have a smooth connection with “u”.
- u – う : an auxiliary verb used after a verb to make its volitional form.
From these two parts, we can understand that “nomou” is literally the volitional form of “nomu” and expresses volition to drink in Japanese. Then, let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.
Example #3: how to say “let’s drink” in Japanese
bīru wo nomou – ビールを飲もう (びーるをのもう)
Let’s drink beer!
Below is the new word used in the example sentence.
- bīru – ビール (びーる) : a noun meaning ‘beer’ in Japanese.
This is a typical usage of “nomou”. In this example, it works to make the suggestion. When we want to say “let’s drink” in Japanese, this volitional form is a good option.
Nomimasu: the masu form of “nomu”
Below are the definition and meaning of “nomimasu”.
- nomumasu – 飲みます (のみます) : the masu form of “nomu”, which means ‘to drink’ politely in Japanese.
Grammatically, “nomimasu” consists of the following two parts:
- nomi – 飲み (のみ) : one conjugation of “nomu”. This can have a smooth connection with “masu”.
- masu – ます : an auxiliary verb used after a verb to make it polite. Probably, this is well known as a part of Japanese masu form.
From these two parts, we can understand that “nomimasu” is literally the masu form of “nomu” and means ‘to drink’ politely in Japanese. Then, let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.
Example #4: how to say “drink” politely in Japanese
seito wa mainichi gyūnyū wo nomimasu – 生徒は毎日牛乳を飲みます (せいとはまいにちぎゅうにゅうをのみます)
Students drink milk every day.
Below are the new words used in the example sentence.
- seito – 生徒 (せいと) : a noun meaning ‘student’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural. Learn more about Japanese plural.
- mainichi – 毎日 (まいにち) : a noun meaning ‘every day’ in Japanese. This can also work as an adverb almost anywhere in a sentence. In the example, this works as an adverb in the middle of the sentence to say “every day” in Japanese.
- gyūnyū – 牛乳 (ぎゅうにゅう) : a noun meaning ‘milk’ in Japanese.
This is a typical usage of “nomimasu”. Its politeness has not been reflected in the English sentence, but the Japanese sentence sounds polite thanks to the masu form. When we want to say “drink” politely in Japanese, this form is a very good option.
Nonda: the past tense form of “nomu”
Below are the definition and meanings of “nonda”.
- nonda – 飲んだ (のんだ) : the past tense form of “nomu”, which means ‘drank’, ‘have drunk’, or such in Japanese.
Grammatically, “nonda” consists of the following two parts:
- non – 飲ん (のん) : one conjugation of “nomu”. This can have a smooth connection with “da”.
- da – だ : the voiced version of “ta” which is an auxiliary verb used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its past tense form.
From these two parts, we can understand that “nonda” is literally the past tense form of “nomu” and means ‘drank’, ‘have drunk’, or such in Japanese. Let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.
Example #5: how to say “drank” in Japanese
kanojo tachi wa kon’ya osake wo nonda – 彼女達は今夜お酒を飲んだ (かのじょたちはこんやおさけをのんだ)
They drank alcohol tonight.
Below are the new words used in the example sentence.
- kanojo – 彼女 (かのじょ) : a pronoun meaning ‘she’ in Japanese.
- tachi – 達 (たち) : a suffix used after a noun or pronoun to make its plural form. In the example, this is used after “kanojo” to make its plural form, “kanojo tachi”, which means ‘they’ in Japanese.
- kon’ya – 今夜 (こんや) : a noun meaning ‘tonight’ in Japanese. This can also work as an adverb almost anywhere in a sentence. In the example, this works as an adverb in the middle of the sentence to say “tonight” in Japanese.
This is a typical usage of “nonda”. When we want to use the past tense form of “nomu”, this form is the best option.
Nonde: the te form of “nomu”
Below are the definition and meaning of “nonde”.
- nonde – 飲んで (のんで) : the te form of “nomu”, which means ‘to drink’ in Japanese.
Grammatically, “nonde” consists of the following two parts:
- non – 飲ん (のん) : one conjugation of “nomu”. This can have a smooth connection with “de”.
- de – で : the voiced version of “te” which is a conjunctive particle used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its te form.
From these two parts, we can understand that “nonde” is literally the te form of “nomu”. In Japanese, te-formed words have some important roles. One of them is make smooth connections of words. So, “nonde” is very useful when we want to use “nomu” in front of another verb, an adjective, or an auxiliary verb. Let me explain this usage through the example sentence below.
Example #6: how to say “drink and” in Japanese
tokidoki ore wa osake wo nonde neru – 時々俺はお酒を飲んで寝る (ときどきおれはおさけをのんでねる)
Sometimes, I drink alcohol and go to bed.
Below are the new words used in the example sentence.
- tokidoki – 時々 (ときどき) : an adverb of frequency meaning ‘sometimes’ in Japanese.
- ore – 俺 (おれ) : a pronoun meaning ‘I’ rudely in Japanese.
- neru – 寝る (ねる) : a verb meaning ‘to go to bed’ in Japanese.
This is a typical usage of “nonde”. In the example, it has the smooth connection with “neru”. When we want to use “nomu” in front of another verb like this, its te form is very useful to make a smooth connection.
Nomeba: the ba form of “nomu”
Lastly, let me explain the definition and meaning of “nomeba”.
- nomeba – 飲めば (のめば) : the ba form of “nomu”, which makes a conditional clause in a sentence with meaning ‘to drink’ in Japanese.
Grammatically, “nomeba” consists of the following two parts:
- nome – 飲め (のめ) : one conjugation of “nomu”. This can have a smooth connection with “ba”.
- ba – ば : a conjunctive particle used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its ba form.
From these two parts, we can understand that “nomeba” is literally the ba form of “nomu”. In Japanese, the ba forms of words can work as their conditional forms. So, we can use “nomeba” to make a conditional clause in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘to drink’. Let me explain this usage through the example sentence below.
Example #7: how to say “if drink” in Japanese
osake wo nomeba, nemuri ga asaku naru – お酒を飲めば、眠りが浅くなる (おさけをのめばねむりがあさくなる)
If you drink alcohol, you cannot sleep deeply.
Below are the new words used in the example sentence.
- nemuri – 眠り (ねむり) : a noun meaning ‘sleep’ in Japanese.
- ga – が : a case particle used to make the subject word or the object word in a sentence. In the example, this is used after “nemuri” to make the subject in the second clause.
- asaku – 浅く (あさく) : one conjugation of the i-adjective, “asai“, which means ‘shallow’ in Japanese. In the example, it has been conjugated for the better connection with the following word.
- naru – なる : a verb meaning ‘to become’, ‘to turn’, ‘to get’, or such in Japanese. In the example, this works together with “asaku” to literally mean ‘to become shallow’ in Japanese.
This is a typical usage of “nomeba”. In this example, it works as a part of the conditional clause, “osake wo nomeba”, which means ‘if you drink alcohol’ in Japanese. When we want to make a conditional clause in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘to drink’ in Japanese, this ba form is a good option.
Summary
In this blog post, I’ve explained the definition and meaning of “nomu” together with its major conjugations. And also, I’ve explained how to use them through the example sentences. Let me summarize them as follows.
- nomu – 飲む (のむ) : a verb meaning ‘to drink’ in Japanese.
- nomanai – 飲まない (のまない) : the nai form of “nomu”, which means ‘not to drink’ in Japanese.
- nomou – 飲もう (のもう) : the volitional form of “nomu”, which expresses volition to drink.
- nomumasu – 飲みます (のみます) : the masu form of “nomu”, which means ‘to drink’ politely in Japanese.
- nonda – 飲んだ (のんだ) : the past tense form of “nomu”, which means ‘drank’, ‘have drunk’, or such in Japanese.
- nonde – 飲んで (のんで) : the te form of “nomu”, which means ‘to drink’ in Japanese. When we want to use “nomu” in front of another verb, this te form is very useful to make a smooth connection.
- nomeba – 飲めば (のめば) : the ba form of “nomu”, which makes a conditional clause in a sentence with meaning ‘to drink’ in Japanese.
Hope my explanations are understandable and helpful for Japanese learners.
