How do you say "Would you like to go for a drink?" in Japanese?

"Would you like to go for a drink?" in Japanese is "飲みに行きませんか。". This phrase is commonly used in Japan.

What does "飲みに行きませんか。" mean in English?

"飲みに行きませんか。" means "Would you like to go for a drink?" in English. Usage tip: This is a classic, polite invitation. [飲みに] shows the purpose, and [行きませんか] makes it gentle and social.

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How to Say ‘Would you like to go for a drink?’ in Japanese

飲みに行きませんか。

nomi ni iki mase n ka

[nomi ni iki mase n ka]

💬 Usage Tip: This is a classic, polite invitation. [飲みに] shows the purpose, and [行きませんか] makes it gentle and social.

🇯🇵 In Japan: Going for drinks is a common way to get to know coworkers, classmates, or new friends in Japan. It is social glue in a glass.

Phrase Breakdown

飲みに

nomi ni

to drink; for drinking

Indicates the purpose of going somewhere: to drink (usually alcohol).

Example

友だちと飲みに行きます。

I’m going out to drink with a friend.

Words in this phrase

飲み

nomi

[nomi]

drinking; to drink

Verb stem used with に to mean 'for a drink.'

Example

今夜、飲みに行きませんか。

Shall we go for a drink tonight?

に

[ni]

to; for

Marks purpose here: going somewhere for drinking.

Example

週末に遊びに行きます。

I will go out to have fun on the weekend.

行きませんか

iki mase n ka

shall we go?; won’t you go?

A polite invitation phrased as a negative question. It invites the listener to go together.

Example

映画を見に行きませんか。

Shall we go see a movie?

Words in this phrase

行き

iki

[iki]

Verb stem of 行く, often used in polite invitations.

Example

みんなで行きませんか。

Shall we all go together?

ませ

mase

[mase]

polite negative part

Part of ません, which can make a polite suggestion as a question.

Example

今日は飲みません。

I won't drink today.

ん

[n]

not

Completes the polite negative ending ません.

Example

まだ寝ません。

I won't sleep yet.

か

[ka]

question marker

Used at the end of a sentence to ask politely.

Example

一緒に行きますか。

Will you go together with me?

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