Celebrations
How to say “cheers” in Chinese
“干杯” (gānbēi) is the toast in Chinese. It literally means “dry the cup”, so traditionally you finish your drink. A host will often say “随意” (suíyì, as you like) to let you sip.
In Chinese
干杯
gānbēi
Cheers
Other ways to say “cheers”
-
为...干杯
wèi ... gānbēi
Cheers to...
To toast a person or occasion: 为我们的友谊干杯.
-
随意
suíyì
As you wish
Means you do not have to finish your drink.
-
一口干
yì kǒu gān
Down in one
Finish the whole glass at once.
-
敬你一杯
jìng nǐ yì bēi
A drink to you
A respectful toast to someone.
Example sentences
-
来，大家干杯！
lái, dàjiā gānbēi!
Come on, everyone, cheers!
-
为我们的友谊干杯！
wèi wǒmen de yǒuyì gānbēi!
To our friendship, cheers!
-
我敬你一杯，谢谢你的帮助。
wǒ jìng nǐ yì bēi, xièxie nǐ de bāngzhù.
A drink to you, thank you for your help.
How to reply
干杯！
gānbēi!
Cheers!
Good to know
- When toasting an elder or a boss, hold your glass slightly lower than theirs as a sign of respect.
- Not drinking alcohol is fine: say “我不喝酒” (I don't drink) and raise a tea or a soft drink.
Questions about “cheers” in Chinese
How do you say “cheers” in Chinese?
“cheers” in Chinese is “干杯” (Cheers). It is written in pinyin as gānbēi. You can also say “为...干杯”, “随意”, “一口干”.
How do you pronounce “干杯” in Chinese?
“干杯” is pronounced gānbēi. Tap the speaker on this page to hear it.
What are other ways to say “cheers” in Chinese?
“为...干杯” (Cheers to...): to toast a person or occasion: 为我们的友谊干杯. “随意” (As you wish): means you do not have to finish your drink. “一口干” (Down in one): finish the whole glass at once. “敬你一杯” (A drink to you): a respectful toast to someone.
How do you reply to “干杯”?
A natural reply is “干杯！” (Cheers!).
Practise it, don't just read it.
Play short games with real Chinese sentences and audio, free on the web and in the Pinglingo app.