飲む
水を飲む
to drink water
To take liquid into the mouth and swallow it
お茶を飲む
to drink tea
薬を飲む
to take medicine
Used for liquids only; solid food uses '食べる' (taberu).
To inhale smoke or vapor into the lungs
タバコを飲む
to smoke a cigarette
Commonly used for smoking in informal contexts.
To accept or believe something without question
彼の話を飲んでしまった
I believed his story without question
Often used in negative contexts (e.g., being deceived).
Pro Tip
Distinguish from '食べる'
'飲む' is for liquids/smoke; '食べる' is for solid food. Memorize common collocations like '飲み物' (drink) and '飲み会' (drinking party) to reinforce the distinction.
Gold Rule
Liquid vs. Solid
Always use '飲む' for liquids or smoke, and '食べる' for solid food. Never interchange them.
Word Origin
From Old Japanese 'nomu', related to Proto-Japonic *nomu. Cognate with Ryukyuan dialects (e.g., Okinawan 'nmu').
Usage Notes
The verb '飲む' is used for liquids, smoke, and metaphorical acceptance. For solid food, use '食べる' (taberu). The kanji '呑' (alternative form) is less common but appears in some compounds.