Meaning and Usage
"酔っ払い" (よっぱらい) is a common noun used to refer to a person who is drunk or intoxicated. It often carries a slightly informal or colloquial tone and can sometimes imply a troublesome or disorderly drunk person.
Common Contexts
You will frequently hear "酔っ払い" in everyday conversations, especially when talking about nightlife, bars, or incidents involving drunk people. It can be used neutrally or with a mild negative nuance depending on context.
Collocations and Patterns
- 酔っ払いが〜する: describes actions by a drunk person, e.g., 酔っ払いが騒ぐ (a drunkard makes noise).
- 酔っ払いに絡まれる: to be bothered or harassed by a drunk person.
- 酔っ払いながら〜する: doing something while drunk, often emphasizing the state of intoxication.
Register and Politeness
"酔っ払い" is informal and typically used in casual speech. In formal contexts, more neutral expressions like "酔った人" (drunk person) or "飲酒者" (drinker) might be preferred.
Common Learner Mistake
Learners sometimes confuse "酔っ払い" with the verb "酔う" (to get drunk). Remember that "酔っ払い" is a noun referring to the person who is drunk, not the action of becoming drunk.