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How to Say ‘I can't really hold my alcohol...’ in Japanese

あまりお酒強くなくて…

amari o sake tsuyoku naku te

[ah-mah-ree o sah-KEH TSOO-yoh-koo naku teh]

💬 Usage Tip: あまり plus a "not" form means "not very": あまり高くない "not very expensive". 強い "strong" with お酒 means you can handle drink.

Phrase Breakdown

あまりお酒

amari o sake

(not) very much ... alcohol

あまり pairs with a negative to mean 'not very'. お酒 (osake) means alcohol in general. The particle が is dropped here, as is common in casual speech.

Example

あまりお酒は飲みません。

I don't drink alcohol very much.

Words in this phrase

あまり

amari

[ah-mah-ree]

too much; very; not much

Often used with a negative form to mean 'not very' or 'not too much.'

Example

あまり無理しないでください。

Please don't overdo it too much.

お

[o]

polite prefix

Used before nouns to make them polite.

Example

お茶をどうぞ。

Please have some tea.

酒

sake

[sah-KEH]

alcohol; sake

General word for alcoholic drinks, usually with polite お.

Example

お酒を飲みます。

I drink alcohol.

強くなくて…

tsuyoku naku te

am not strong (with it), so...

強くない means 'not strong'. The て-form trails off softly to give a reason without finishing the sentence. Say it gently, with a falling tone.

Example

体が強くなくて…

I'm not very physically strong, so...

Words in this phrase

強く

tsuyoku

[TSOO-yoh-koo]

strong (adverbial form)

Form of 強い 'strong'; お酒が強い means able to hold one's liquor.

Example

父はお酒が強くない。

My dad can't handle alcohol well.

なく

naku

[naku]

not

Negative form indicator.

Example

今日は行けなくなった。

I can't go today.

て

[teh]

and; -te form

A linking form used to connect verbs to following grammar, such as progressive or polite forms.

Example

仕事を探している人と話しました。

I spoke with a person who is looking for work.

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