Chinese phrases
How to say cheers in Chinese
Cheers in Chinese is 干杯 (gān bēi). It means “dry the glass”, and at a formal dinner, people may expect you to empty it.
干杯
cheers
干 here is gān, “dry”, with a high, level tone. With a falling tone, gàn means “to do”.
Ways to say cheers
干杯
Everydaycheers; bottoms up
Before the first drink, and at any toast. With friends it just means “cheers”.
随意
Everydaydrink as much as you like
Tells the other person they can sip instead of emptying the glass. At business dinners you hear 我干了，你随意: “I’ll finish mine, you drink what you like.”
我敬你一杯
Formala toast to you
To toast one person: a host, a boss, an older guest. To someone senior, say 我敬您一杯. Stand up and say why: 谢谢您的照顾.
走一个
With friendslet’s have one
Casual, at a barbecue or a night out: 来，走一个!
碰一个
With friendslet’s clink glasses
With friends, when you lift your glass to someone across the table.
What to toast to
祝你身体健康
to your health
Safe at any table, and the usual wish for older people.
合作愉快
to a good partnership
At a business dinner.
生日快乐
happy birthday
At a birthday dinner, before 干杯.
Common mistakes
Saying 干杯 and then sipping
At a formal dinner, 干杯 can mean the whole glass. If you only want a sip, say 我随意 before you drink. Most hosts accept this.
Saying gàn bēi
The 干 of 干杯 is gān, “dry”, a high, level tone. gàn is the 干 of 你在干什么, “what are you doing?”
Clinking higher than your host
When you toast a host, a boss or an older guest, hold your glass a little lower than theirs when the glasses touch. It shows respect.
Dinner with friends
来，大家干杯！
Liangliang: Come on, everyone, cheers!
干杯！
Leon: Cheers!
我不太能喝，我随意。
Qiqi: I can’t drink much. I’ll just have a sip.
没事，随意随意。
Liangliang: No problem, drink what you like.
