Asian rice wine

Meanings

1. 1noununcountable

   An alcoholic drink made by fermenting rice, especially the traditional drinks of East Asia such as sake or mijiu.

   Grammar: Usually uncountable and used without 'a': order rice wine, not order a rice wine. Say 'a glass of rice wine' for one serving.

   Patterns

   • a bottle of Asian rice wine
   • Asian rice wine is served warm
   • cook with Asian rice wine

   The restaurant keeps several kinds of Asian rice wine behind the bar.

   She poured a little Asian rice wine into the sauce while the vegetables cooked.

   In Japan, Asian rice wine is often served warm in small cups.

2. 2nouncountable

   A particular variety or brand of this drink, treated as a countable item on a menu or in a shop.

   Grammar: Countable when you mean one type or bottle: this Asian rice wine, three Asian rice wines.

   Patterns

   • try an Asian rice wine
   • this Asian rice wine
   • a sweet Asian rice wine

   The menu lists three Asian rice wines by the glass.

   This Asian rice wine is sweeter than the one we had last week.

   They stock a dry Asian rice wine that goes well with seafood.

Common combinations

a bottle of Asian rice wine

He brought a bottle of Asian rice wine to the dinner party.

serve Asian rice wine warm

In many homes, they serve Asian rice wine warm in winter.

cook with Asian rice wine

Many chefs cook with Asian rice wine instead of grape wine.

a glass of Asian rice wine

She ordered a glass of Asian rice wine with her meal.

sweet Asian rice wine

Desserts are sometimes made with sweet Asian rice wine.

Synonyms and how they differ

sake

Use 'sake' when you specifically mean the Japanese drink; 'Asian rice wine' is the wider term covering several countries.

rice wine

This is the shorter, more general phrase; adding 'Asian' makes clear you are not talking about a grape-based wine.

mijiu

This is the Chinese type of rice wine; it is a narrower, more specific choice than the general term.

Word family

rice noun

The grain from which this drink is made.

wine noun

A general word for an alcoholic drink made from fruit or grain.

winery noun

A place where wine is made.

Commonly confused: Asian rice wine or rice vinegar? Asian rice wine or sake?

Practice

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Write a sentence using “Asian rice wine”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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