<p>Per my understanding, <code>alcoholic</code> has two meanings in English:</p>

<ol>
<li>(Something) contains or is related to alcohol.</li>
<li>(Someone) is addicted to alcohol or is affected by alcoholism.</li>
</ol>

<p>For the first meaning, in Chinese we say <code>含有酒精的</code> or <code>酒精含量高的</code>. E.g. </p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Alcoholic drink 含酒精的饮品 or simply 酒精饮品</p>
</blockquote>

<p>For the second, we use the word <code>酗酒(成性)</code> (adj.) or <code>酗酒者/酒鬼</code> (noun).</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>He is an alcoholic. 他酗酒成性 or 他是个酒鬼。</p>
</blockquote>

<hr>

<p>Regarding the Chinese phrases in your question,</p>

<p>酒精很强，很有酒精 means #1 but don't sound natural without context. </p>

<p>"酒量很高“ or ”酒量很大” means someone is good at drinking. <code>酒量</code> is not the short form of <code>酒精含量</code>, but one word meaning 'the ability of a person to hold liquor'. </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-10-12T14:52:03.617Z
so 酒量  refers to how much alcohol a person can take, correct?
Stephen
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-10-12T14:52:19.627Z
Would you say "高“ or ”大“ ？
Stephen
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-10-12T19:21:10.487Z
@Stephen 酒量 is usually associated with 大. 酒精含量/浓度 is usually connected with 高, although 大 is also correct and common.
NS.X.
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-10-12T01:51:21.553Z
2014-10-12T01:51:21.553Z
NS.X.
<p>I'm continuously confused on how to best say something is alcoholic. For example, I have heard
酒精很强， 很有酒精 , But I've also heard "酒量很高“ or ”酒量很大” </p>

<p>Could someone clarify which of these is the most common/which might be bad translations? </p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-08-13T02:56:02.907Z
酒量很大 generally refers to somebody's ability to drink without getting drunk.
Marko
<vocabulary>
How do you say something is "very alcoholic"?
# How do you say something is "very alcoholic"?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-10-11)

I'm continuously confused on how to best say something is alcoholic. For example, I have heard
酒精很强， 很有酒精 , But I've also heard "酒量很高“ or ”酒量很大”

Could someone clarify which of these is the most common/which might be bad translations?

**Tags:** vocabulary

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: 酒量很大 generally refers to somebody's ability to drink without getting drunk.  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2014-10-12. Score: 2 | Accepted answer

Per my understanding, `alcoholic` has two meanings in English:

1. (Something) contains or is related to alcohol.
2. (Someone) is addicted to alcohol or is affected by alcoholism.

For the first meaning, in Chinese we say `含有酒精的` or `酒精含量高的`. E.g.

> Alcoholic drink 含酒精的饮品 or simply 酒精饮品

For the second, we use the word `酗酒(成性)` (adj.) or `酗酒者/酒鬼` (noun).

> He is an alcoholic. 他酗酒成性 or 他是个酒鬼。

---

Regarding the Chinese phrases in your question,

酒精很强，很有酒精 means #1 but don't sound natural without context.

"酒量很高“ or ”酒量很大” means someone is good at drinking. `酒量` is not the short form of `酒精含量`, but one word meaning 'the ability of a person to hold liquor'.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: so 酒量  refers to how much alcohol a person can take, correct?  
> **username_0**: Would you say "高“ or ”大“ ？  
> **username_2**: @username_0 酒量 is usually associated with 大. 酒精含量/浓度 is usually connected with 高, although 大 is also correct and common.  

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