Hello, I’m Kodak.
You enter a Japanese izakaya with a group. Before anyone studies the long drink menu, someone says:
Toriaezu nama!
Draft beer to start!
生 can mean “raw,” “fresh,” “live,” or “unprocessed.” But in an izakaya, 生 is a common abbreviation of 生ビール (nama bīru)—draft beer.
とりあえず生 (toriaezu nama) means:
“A draft beer to start.”
“Draft beer for now.”
“Let’s start with a draft beer.”
It is a casual phrase commonly associated with the first drink at a Japanese izakaya.
However, it is not a rule that everyone in Japan must begin with beer. The phrase is famous because it reflects a familiar drinking-party custom: ordering the first round quickly so the group can make a toast.
In this article, you will learn the exact meaning, pronunciation, grammar, cultural background, natural ordering phrases, and common misunderstandings surrounding toriaezu nama.
What Does Toriaezu Nama Mean?
とりあえず生 is a shortened, casual order meaning that the speaker wants a draft beer as the first drink, before deciding what to order later.
for now; first of all; to start with
生
short for 生ビール, draft beer
とりあえず生
⇒ Draft beer to start.
⇒ I’ll have a draft beer for now.
⇒ Let’s begin with draft beer.
とりあえず生で。
Toriaezu nama de.
I’ll start with a draft beer.
とりあえず生を二つお願いします。
Toriaezu nama o futatsu onegai shimasu.
Two draft beers to start, please.
Here, it means “before anything else” or “as the first step.” You may genuinely like beer—you are simply choosing the first drink before making later decisions.
How to Write and Pronounce Toriaezu Nama
Kanji spelling: 取り敢えず生
All hiragana: とりあえずなま
Romaji: toriaezu nama
Meaning: draft beer to start
In modern everyday writing, とりあえず is usually written in hiragana. The full kanji form 取り敢えず is correct but looks more formal or literary.
と・り・あ・え・ず な・ま
Pronunciation:
to-ri-a-e-zu na-ma
to-ri-a-e-zu
Practice slowly first, especially the sequence a-e.
What Does Toriaezu Mean by Itself?
とりあえず is a useful adverb with two closely related core meanings.
Do this first; other matters can wait.
2. For now / as a temporary first step
This is enough at the moment; a later decision may follow.
とりあえず店に入りましょう。
Toriaezu mise ni hairimashō.
Let’s go into the restaurant first.
とりあえず水をください。
Toriaezu mizu o kudasai.
Water for now, please.
とりあえず予約だけしておこう。
Toriaezu yoyaku dake shite okō.
Let’s at least make a reservation for now.
とりあえず usually says, “This is what we will do first, while leaving later decisions open.”
The Origin and Structure of とりあえず
The standard kanji spelling is 取り敢えず.
to take; to handle
敢える (aeru)
in older usage, to be able to complete or manage an action
ず (zu)
a classical negative ending meaning “not”
The older image is that something is so urgent that one cannot fully handle everything first. From that idea developed the modern meanings “immediately,” “before anything else,” and “for the time being.”
Dictionary records include examples of とりあえず with the sense “immediately” in The Tale of Genji, written around the early eleventh century.
too urgent to handle everything
↓
do the first necessary thing immediately
↓
put other matters aside for now
↓
“first of all” / “for the time being”
Do not translate its individual historical parts every time you hear it.
What Does Nama Mean in Toriaezu Nama?
生 (nama) has many meanings in Japanese, including raw, fresh, live, unprocessed, direct, and in person.
In とりあえず生, however, it is an abbreviation of:
draft beer / beer on tap
生を一つください。
Nama o hitotsu kudasai.
One draft beer, please.
生、三つお願いします。
Nama, mittsu onegai shimasu.
Three draft beers, please.
Under Japanese beer-labeling rules, 生ビール refers to beer that has not undergone heat treatment.
Is Nama Beer the Same as Draft Beer?
In a Japanese restaurant, 生ビール is normally translated as draft beer or beer on tap.
However, there is a technical nuance.
beer that has not been heat-treated
Restaurant meaning of 生
usually beer poured from a keg or tap into a glass or mug
English draft/draught beer
traditionally emphasizes beer drawn from a keg or cask
Because most restaurant customers use 生 to order beer from the tap, draft beer is the natural practical translation.
But when you say 生 to an izakaya server, you are normally ordering the restaurant’s draft beer.
The Full Grammar of とりあえず生で
The most common spoken order is not always the bare phrase とりあえず生. You will also hear:
Toriaezu nama de.
I’ll go with a draft beer to start.
The particle で can mark the selected option in ordering expressions.
Draft beer for me.
飲み物はウーロン茶で。
Oolong tea for my drink.
最初はビールで。
Beer to start.
The rest of the sentence is understood from context:
A draft beer to start, please.
↓
とりあえず生で。
Draft beer to start.
For a beginner or a more polite situation, add お願いします:
とりあえず生でお願いします。
Natural Ways to Order Draft Beer in Japanese
Nama bīru o onegai shimasu.
Draft beer, please.
とりあえず生でお願いします。
Toriaezu nama de onegai shimasu.
A draft beer to start, please.
生を一つください。
Nama o hitotsu kudasai.
One draft beer, please.
生を二つお願いします。
Nama o futatsu onegai shimasu.
Two draft beers, please.
最初は生にします。
Saisho wa nama ni shimasu.
I’ll start with draft beer.
What Do Nama-chū, Nama-dai, and Nama-shō Mean?
Restaurants may offer several draft-beer sizes.
small draft beer
生中 (nama-chū)
medium draft beer
生大 (nama-dai)
large draft beer
生中 is a very common izakaya order. It is short for 生ビールの中ジョッキ—a medium mug of draft beer.
とりあえず生中を三つ。
Toriaezu nama-chū o mittsu.
Three medium draft beers to start.
Check the menu if the exact amount matters to you.
Why Do People Say Toriaezu Nama?
The phrase became culturally familiar because it solves a simple group-ordering problem.
↓
Everyone wants to begin the meal
↓
Choosing from a long menu takes time
↓
Several people order the same quick first drink
↓
The drinks arrive and the group can toast
Beer has traditionally been a common first drink at Japanese workplace parties and group dinners. Ordering the same item made the first round faster for both guests and staff.
Today, people commonly begin with highballs, sours, cocktails, tea, soft drinks, or no drink at all.
Does Everyone in Japan Start with Beer?
No.
・draft beer
・highball
・lemon sour
・chūhai
・wine
・cocktail
・sake
・oolong tea
・non-alcoholic beer
・water or another soft drink
The phrase とりあえず生 remains widely recognizable, but contemporary drinking choices are more diverse. Some younger drinkers and non-drinkers do not identify with the old idea that beer should automatically be the first round.
You can still raise your glass and join the toast with a non-alcoholic drink.
How to Say You Do Not Want Beer
Watashi wa haibōru ni shimasu.
I’ll have a highball.
ビールが苦手なので、ウーロン茶をお願いします。
Bīru ga nigate na node, ūroncha o onegai shimasu.
I do not really like beer, so oolong tea, please.
お酒は飲みません。
O-sake wa nomimasen.
I do not drink alcohol.
ノンアルコールビールはありますか？
Non-arukōru bīru wa arimasu ka?
Do you have non-alcoholic beer?
私はソフトドリンクで。
Watashi wa sofuto dorinku de.
A soft drink for me.
A simple choice sounds natural:
私はレモンサワーで。
“Lemon sour for me.”
Toriaezu Nama vs Toriaezu Beer
Draft beer to start.
Specific: normally beer from the tap.
とりあえずビール
Beer to start.
Broader: the exact style or container may depend on the menu.
In many izakaya situations, the two expressions communicate almost the same intention. However, 生 more clearly requests the draft option.
You can ask:
生ビールはありますか？
“Do you have draft beer?”
Toriaezu vs Mazu: What Is the Difference?
Both can mean “first”, but their nuance differs.
first; first of all
Focuses on order or sequence.
とりあえず (toriaezu)
for now; first of all; as an immediate first step
Leaves later decisions open.
まずメニューを見ましょう。
Mazu menyū o mimashō.
First, let’s look at the menu.
とりあえず飲み物を頼みましょう。
Toriaezu nomimono o tanomimashō.
For now, let’s order drinks.
まず sounds more like you are explaining the first step in a sequence.
Toriaezu vs Hitomazu: What Is the Difference?
do something first; make an immediate or temporary choice
ひとまず
for the moment; reach a temporary stopping point before continuing later
とりあえず注文しよう。
Let’s order something first.
注文はひとまずこれで終わりです。
That will be all for the moment.
Can Toriaezu Sound Dismissive?
Sometimes.
Because とりあえず can suggest a temporary, provisional, or first-step solution, it may sound as if the speaker has not thought deeply about the choice.
とりあえず飲み物を注文しよう。
Let’s order drinks first.
Potentially dismissive:
とりあえず謝っておけばいい。
Just apologize for now and that should be enough.
In とりあえず生, the expression is normally playful and conventional rather than insulting to the beer.
When Can You Use Toriaezu Nama?
・an izakaya
・a casual restaurant serving draft beer
・a work party
・a dinner with friends
・a sports-viewing bar
・a group meal where drinks are ordered first
It sounds casual. At an upscale restaurant or when speaking very politely, use the full form:
Saisho ni nama bīru o onegai shimasu.
A draft beer to begin, please.
Example: Ordering the First Round
Saisho, nani nomu?
What are you drinking first?
B: とりあえず生で。
Toriaezu nama de.
Draft beer to start.
C: 私はレモンサワー。
Watashi wa remon sawā.
Lemon sour for me.
D: ウーロン茶をお願いします。
Ūroncha o onegai shimasu.
Oolong tea, please.
A: じゃあ、生一つ、レモンサワー一つ、ウーロン茶一つお願いします。
Jā, nama hitotsu, remon sawā hitotsu, ūroncha hitotsu onegai shimasu.
Okay—one draft beer, one lemon sour, and one oolong tea, please.
Example: Ordering Several Draft Beers
Toriaezu nama-chū o yottsu onegai shimasu.
Four medium draft beers to start, please.
Staff: かしこまりました。
Kashikomarimashita.
Certainly.
Example: Checking the Beer Type
Nama bīru wa nan desu ka?
Which draft beer do you serve?
Staff: 当店の生ビールは〇〇です。
Tōten no nama bīru wa ___ desu.
Our draft beer is ___.
Customer: では、生を一つお願いします。
Dewa, nama o hitotsu onegai shimasu.
Then one draft beer, please.
Example: Choosing a Non-Alcoholic First Drink
Toriaezu nama de ii?
Is draft beer okay to start?
B: ごめん、今日は飲まない。ノンアルコールビールにする。
Gomen, kyō wa nomanai. Non-arukōru bīru ni suru.
Sorry, I’m not drinking today. I’ll have non-alcoholic beer.
A: 了解。好きなもの頼もう。
Ryōkai. Suki na mono tanomō.
Got it. Let’s each order what we want.
Is Toriaezu Nama Polite?
The bare phrase is casual and highly abbreviated.
とりあえず生！
Casual but softer:
とりあえず生で。
Polite:
とりあえず生でお願いします。
Clear and polite:
最初に生ビールを一つお願いします。
A learner will rarely go wrong with お願いします.
What If There Are Several Draft Beers?
Modern izakayas and craft-beer bars may offer more than one beer on tap.
At a craft-beer bar, specify the beer name, style, or tap number.
Ichiban no bīru o onegai shimasu.
Beer number one, please.
このIPAをお願いします。
Kono IPA o onegai shimasu.
This IPA, please.
おすすめの生ビールはどれですか？
Osusume no nama bīru wa dore desu ka?
Which draft beer do you recommend?
Toriaezu Nama in Anime, Manga, and Dramas
The phrase often appears in scenes set at izakayas, company parties, reunions, or casual dinners.
I’m exhausted today! Draft beer first!
全員そろったし、とりあえず生頼む？
Everyone’s here—shall we order draft beer first?
俺はとりあえず生中。
I’ll start with a medium draft beer.
私はビールじゃなくてハイボールで。
I’ll have a highball, not beer.
The exact impression depends on the character, setting, and tone.
Is Toriaezu Nama Still Used Today?
Yes. It remains a widely recognized phrase in Japanese drinking culture.
At the same time, the expectation that everyone should begin with beer has weakened as tastes, health choices, and attitudes toward group conformity have diversified.
Recent surveys of young adults have reported more varied first choices, including lemon sours and not drinking alcohol at all. The phrase therefore works best as a famous cultural shorthand—not as a description of every modern Japanese group.
Natural Japanese begins with choosing words that match your real intention.
Can You Say Toriaezu with Other Drinks?
Yes. The pattern is productive.
A highball to start.
とりあえずレモンサワー。
Lemon sour for now.
とりあえずウーロン茶をお願いします。
Oolong tea to start, please.
とりあえず水をください。
Water first, please.
The fixed phrase captures that familiar social scene.
Common Beginner Mistakes
Mistake 1: Translating Nama as “Raw”
In this restaurant phrase, 生 is short for 生ビール. Translate it as draft beer, not “raw.”
Mistake 2: Thinking Toriaezu Means “Whatever”
The speaker has selected beer. とりあえず says it is the immediate first choice, not a random unknown drink.
Mistake 3: Assuming Everyone Must Order Beer
People can choose different drinks and still participate in the same toast.
Mistake 4: Ordering Nama at a Craft-Beer Bar without Checking
If several taps are available, specify the beer you want.
Mistake 5: Forgetting the Size
The staff may ask サイズはいかがしますか？—“What size would you like?”
Mistake 6: Using the Phrase Even When You Do Not Want Alcohol
It is cultural vocabulary, not an obligation.
Mistake 7: Thinking “Draft” Means the Same Thing in Every Country
Japanese 生ビール is defined by non-heat-treatment, while English draft/draught traditionally emphasizes serving from a keg or cask.
Natural Example Sentences with Toriaezu
とりあえず生でお願いします。
Toriaezu nama de onegai shimasu.
A draft beer to start, please.
とりあえず生中を二つ。
Toriaezu nama-chū o futatsu.
Two medium draft beers to start.
とりあえず飲み物を決めよう。
Toriaezu nomimono o kimeyō.
Let’s decide on the drinks first.
とりあえずメニューを見せてください。
Toriaezu menyū o misete kudasai.
Please show us the menu first.
とりあえず枝豆を頼もう。
Toriaezu edamame o tanomō.
Let’s order edamame for now.
生ビールはありますか？
Nama bīru wa arimasu ka?
Do you have draft beer?
私は生ではなく、レモンサワーにします。
Watashi wa nama de wa naku, remon sawā ni shimasu.
I’ll have a lemon sour rather than draft beer.
全員、最初は生でいいですか？
Zen’in, saisho wa nama de ii desu ka?
Is everyone okay with draft beer to start?
好きな飲み物を頼んでください。
Suki na nomimono o tanonde kudasai.
Please order whatever drink you like.
とりあえず水を飲んで、少し休みましょう。
Toriaezu mizu o nonde, sukoshi yasumimashō.
For now, let’s drink some water and take a short break.
Alcohol Age and Responsible Drinking in Japan
People under 20 are legally prohibited from drinking alcohol in Japan. A person who is 18 or 19 is legally an adult for many purposes but still cannot drink alcohol.
Drivers must not drink.
The phrase とりあえず生 also does not mean you need to drink quickly, finish the glass, or keep pace with others.
・order a non-alcoholic drink
・drink water between alcoholic drinks
・eat while drinking
・stop when you feel unwell
・never pressure another person to drink
・never drive after drinking
FAQ About Toriaezu Nama
What does toriaezu nama mean?
とりあえず生 means “a draft beer to start” or “draft beer for now.” It is a casual izakaya ordering phrase.
What does toriaezu mean?
とりあえず means “first of all,” “for now,” or “as an immediate first step,” while leaving later decisions open.
Why does nama mean beer?
In an izakaya, 生 is a common abbreviation of 生ビール, meaning draft beer.
Does nama literally mean raw?
生 can mean raw in other contexts. For beer, it refers to non-heat-treated beer. In a restaurant order, it normally means draft beer.
How do you politely say toriaezu nama?
Say とりあえず生でお願いします, meaning “A draft beer to start, please.”
What is nama-chū?
生中 is a medium-sized draft beer, short for 生ビールの中ジョッキ. The exact volume varies by restaurant.
Does everyone in Japan start with beer?
No. Many people choose highballs, sours, wine, cocktails, tea, soft drinks, non-alcoholic beer, or no drink.
Is toriaezu nama rude?
The bare phrase is casual but normal at an izakaya. Add お願いします for a more polite order.
Can I say toriaezu with another drink?
Yes. For example, とりあえずハイボールで means “A highball to start.”
What is the difference between toriaezu and mazu?
まず focuses on the first step in an order. とりあえず means making an immediate or temporary first choice while later decisions remain open.
Is nama beer always served from a tap?
In an izakaya order, 生 normally means beer served from the tap. Technically, Japanese labeling defines 生ビール as beer that has not been heat-treated, so canned and bottled products may also be called nama beer.
Can someone under 20 order toriaezu nama in Japan?
No. Alcohol consumption by people under 20 is prohibited in Japan. Choose a non-alcoholic or soft drink instead.
Summary: Toriaezu Nama Meaning and Culture
とりあえず生 means “a draft beer to start.”
● Toriaezu
for now; first of all; as the immediate first step
● Nama
short for 生ビール, draft beer
● Natural polite order
とりあえず生でお願いします。
A draft beer to start, please.
● Cultural background
The phrase became familiar because a shared first order allowed groups to receive drinks and begin the toast quickly.
● Modern reality
Not everyone begins with beer. Different alcoholic and non-alcoholic choices are normal.
● Important nuance
生ビール is technically non-heat-treated beer in Japanese labeling, while 生 in an izakaya normally refers to draft beer from the tap.
とりあえず ⇒ choose the first step now
生 ⇒ draft beer
Together:
“Draft beer to start!”
References
- Kotobank: 取り敢えず — modern meanings including “first of all,” “immediately,” and “for the time being.”
- Kotobank: 不取敢 — historical meanings and examples, including an early use in The Tale of Genji.
- Kotobank Japanese–English Dictionary: 取り敢えず — English equivalents and the example “取りあえずビールにしよう.”
- Kotobank: 生ビール — dictionary definition, historical example, and explanation of non-heat-treated beer.
- Kirin: What is nama beer? — explanation of the Japanese fair-competition rule defining nama or draft beer as non-heat-treated beer.
- Kirin Beer University: Beer terminology — explanation of 生ビール and differences in the international use of “draft beer.”
- Sapporo Breweries: Difference between nama beer and heat-treated beer — explanation of filtration and heat treatment.
- Mynavi News: Survey on young adults’ first drink choices — an illustrative survey showing diversification beyond draft beer as the first drink.
- Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare: Guidelines on alcohol consumption with consideration for health — official responsible-drinking guidance.
- Tokyo Regional Taxation Bureau: Prevention of drinking under age 20 — official explanation that people under 20 are prohibited from drinking alcohol in Japan.