WALKSCAPE
Crosswave EditionToriaezu Nama: Why the First Order Is Often a Draft Beer
2026-03-02
The Scene Comes Before the Words
In a Japanese drama or variety show, you might hear it almost as soon as people sit down at a restaurant. Before the menus have come open, someone says:
- 「とりあえず、生(なま)で。」
The first time you hear it, the order may be hard to make out. It comes out literally as something like “draft, for now.” In context, it’s a plain request: “A draft beer to start, please.”
The expression says very little about how much the person likes beer. It tells you they haven’t chosen the rest of the order. Dinner can wait a moment. The evening has already begun.
What Toriaezu Does in a Sentence
Toriaezu (とりあえず) is sometimes translated as if it meant doing something carelessly. In this exchange, it’s a way of putting one thing first. You don’t have to finish deciding. You can begin with the part that’s clear.
You can use it for plenty of things besides beer.
- とりあえず座(すわ)ってください。
- Have a seat for now, please.
- とりあえずやってみよう。
- Let’s give it a try first.
It gets something moving while the rest is still open. At a restaurant, the drinks can arrive and the conversation can start while people think about what to eat.
Why Draft Beer?
Nama (生・なま) here is short for nama bīru, draft beer. At an izakaya or a casual restaurant it’s a familiar opening order. It arrives quickly and gives people something to raise in a toast while they look over the menu.
The feeling behind the order is simple.
“We haven’t decided everything yet. Let’s get started.”
That’s what gives the words a second purpose. They open a meal or a conversation and acknowledge that the group has arrived.
Why the Phrase Stays With You
A scene often makes a phrase easier to remember than a vocabulary list does. Think of people finding their seats, laughing and receiving the first round. Once you have that image, the words tend to come with it.
| Expression | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| とりあえず | toriaezu | for now / to start |
| 生 | nama | draft beer |
| とりあえず生 | toriaezu nama | a draft beer to start, please |
More Examples
- とりあえず水(みず)をください。
- Just water for now, please.
- とりあえず始(はじ)めましょう。
- Let’s get started for now.
- とりあえず生(なま)一杯(いっぱい)。
- One draft beer to start, please.
- 料理(りょうり)は後(あと)で決(き)めます。
- I’ll decide on the food later.
The Thought to Take With You
Toriaezu gives you a way to begin while you’re still figuring things out. In toriaezu nama, the beer is the part you can decide on immediately. The rest of the evening can follow.