How to Say Cheers in Chinese: 干杯, Toasting Etiquette & Drinking Culture

干杯 (gānbēi) — Word by Word

Both syllables are first tone, so keep them high and level: gān bēi, like two flat notes. The literal meaning — “dry the cup” — is a promise to drink the whole glass, which is why at a formal Chinese dinner 干杯 is more of a commitment than a casual “cheers.” Hear the tones for any syllable in the Interactive Pinyin Chart.

干杯 vs 随意 — Bottoms-Up or Sip?

The single most useful distinction at a Chinese table: 干杯 means empty the glass; 随意 means drink as you like. When someone raises their glass and says 干杯, the expectation (especially with 白酒 in tiny cups) is that you both finish and may tip the glass to show it's empty. If that's too much, the graceful move is to say 我干了，你随意 (wǒ gān le, nǐ suíyì) — “I'll finish mine, you drink as much as you like” — or simply ask for 随意. Offering others 随意 is a generous, face-saving gesture that releases them from a full bottoms-up.

Toasting Etiquette (敬酒) — The Unwritten Rules

• Use both hands. Hold your glass with your right hand and steady the base with your left — a sign of respect and sincerity.
• Lower your glass. When clinking with an elder, host, or superior, let the rim of your glass touch below theirs. The more junior you are, the lower you go.
• Toast the host first. Early in the meal the host toasts the table; guests then return toasts individually, usually starting with the most senior person.
• Stand for a full-table toast, and make brief eye contact with the person you're honoring.
• Never toast with an empty glass, and don't start drinking before the host's first toast.
• Say a good wish, not just 干杯 — a short blessing (below) makes the toast warm rather than mechanical.

Toast Phrases & Good Wishes

Drinking Vocabulary

How to Politely Decline a Drink

You never have to drink alcohol — but in Chinese drinking culture you should still join the toast. Raise a glass of tea, juice, or water, clink, and use one of these:

Hear every tone above in the Interactive Pinyin Chart, build whole toast sentences in our English to Chinese Translator, and pair this with Chinese Food Vocabulary — 80 Dishes for your next banquet.