Lesson Basic understanding of izakaya signs

[Snow]

Below is the Japanese writing that you will most frequently see on izakaya (and sometimes on cafe and bar) signs around Okinawa. Helping to understand these will allow you to have a better experience while staying here.

• All you can drink
  飲み放題
  nomi houdai
  Nomi comes from the verb nomu (to drink).
  
  
  
• All you can eat and drink.
  食べ飲み放題
  tabe nomi houdai
  Tabe comes from the verb taberu (to eat).
  
  
  
• Hours
  時間
  X ji kan (for hours X)
  2時間
  ni ji kan (for two hours)
  
  
  
• Minutes
  分
  pun (or hun)
  30分
  san ju pun (for 30 minutes)
  
  
  
• Time
  時
  ji
  5時 - 7時 (5 to 7 o'clock)

Two examples of combining the above (by appearance only)

1. 飲み放題 1時間980円
   All you can drink, for 1 hour, 980 yen.
   
   
2. 6時－8時 ビール100円
   From 6-8, beer, 100 yen (each).
   
   While everywhere still offers beer, you might see mugishu or happoushu on the sign (麦酒 and 発泡酒 respectively) instead of ビール (beer).

 

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[Snow]

Can you figure it out?

​

 

[island cyclist]

tabe nomi houdai

What does "houdai" mean ?

 

[chris]

Below is the Japanese writing that you will most frequently see on izakaya (and sometimes on cafe and bar) signs around Okinawa. Helping to understand these will allow you to have a better experience while staying here.

• All you can drink
  飲み放題
  nomi houdai
  Nomi comes from the verb nomu (to drink).
  
  
  
• All you can eat and drink.
  食べ飲み放題
  tabe nomi houdai
  Tabe comes from the verb taberu (to eat).
  
  
  
• Hours
  時間
  X ji kan (for hours X)
  2時間
  ni ji kan (for two hours)
  
  
  
• Minutes
  分
  pun (or hun)
  30分
  san ju pun (for 30 minutes)
  
  
  
• Time
  時
  ji
  5時 - 7時 (5 to 7 o'clock)

Two examples of combining the above (by appearance only)

1. 飲み放題 1時間980円
   All you can drink, for 1 hour, 980 yen.
   
   
2. 6時－8時 ビール100円
   From 6-8, beer, 100 yen (each).
   
   While everywhere still offers beer, you might see mugishu or happoushu on the sign (麦酒 and 発泡酒 respectively) instead of ビール (beer).

Thanks for this Snow i really didn't know some of this my wife reads everything for me. i also found but not to many just a few some izakaya's have it written in english and i saw one the other day freaked me out but LOL to.

 

[Snow]

What does "houdai" mean ?

Houdai means unlimited. It's usually followed by a verb, for instance mi-houdai. "Mi" comes from "miru-watch" so it means "unlimited viewing"

 

[Snow]

Thanks for this Snow i really didn't know some of this my wife reads everything for me. i also found but not to many just a few some izakaya's have it written in english and i saw one the other day freaked me out but LOL to.

You're very welcome! I usually have to read everything for my husband @David too and it tires me out sometimes lol. I hope this helps so you don't have to ask your wife anymore! (When you're out to drink)

 

[island cyclist]

Houdai means unlimited. It's usually followed by a verb, for instance mi-houdai. "Mi" comes from "miru-watch" so it means "unlimited viewing"

Wow! Thank you.

 

[chris]

You're very welcome! I usually have to read everything for my husband @David too and it tires me out sometimes lol. I hope this helps so you don't have to ask your wife anymore! (When you're out to drink)

LOL i will always be asking my wife but keep those words coming

 

[chris]

LOL i will always be asking my wife but keep those words coming

You're very welcome! I usually have to read everything for my husband @David too and it tires me out sometimes lol. I hope this helps so you don't have to ask your wife anymore! (When you're out to drink)

see my problem with japanese is the syllables plus i am sure im really stupid to but i learn japanese words everyday but my mind won't accept them and the next i forget the words i learned. i know this sounds weird but its true. but i keep on trying lol

 

[Snow]

see my problem with japanese is the syllables plus i am sure im really stupid to but i learn japanese words everyday but my mind won't accept them and the next i forget the words i learned. i know this sounds weird but its true. but i keep on trying lol

You're NOT stupid, Japanese is a difficult language to learn for sure! Keep on learning so you will be able to speak eventually