Everyday Chinese phrase

Cheers in Chinese: 干杯, 敬你 & 为…干杯

干杯 (gānbēi) is the common word for cheers. 敬你 or 敬您 is a more directed toast, and 为……干杯 means “a toast to …”.

Common toast 干杯 gānbēiDirected toast 敬你 / 敬您Toast to 为……干杯

Quick answer: 干杯 is the common toast

干杯 (gānbēi) is the everyday Chinese word for “cheers” or “a toast.” The characters literally suggest emptying a cup, but the expression does not create a universal obligation to finish an alcoholic drink. 敬你 (jìng nǐ) or 敬您 (jìng nín) is a directed toast to a person. 为……干杯 (wèi … gānbēi) means “a toast to …” and can complete a formal or celebratory statement.

Table culture varies by region, generation, relationship and setting. The language should help you participate without pressure, not make a decision about alcohol for someone else.

Chinese toasts and cheers by setting, formality and drinking boundary
Expression	Pinyin	When it fits	Boundary or caution
干杯	gānbēi	General toast at a meal or celebration	Do not assume that everyone must drain the glass. Ask or follow the group.
为……干杯	wèi … gānbēi	“A toast to [person, success, friendship]”	Good for a clear wish or occasion; complete the sentence with the subject.
敬你 / 敬您	jìng nǐ / jìng nín	Directed toast to one person	敬您 is more respectful and formal. 敬你 is closer and more casual.
我先敬您一杯	wǒ xiān jìng nín yì bēi	A formal or respectful first toast	一 here is often read yì before the tone change; learn the natural spoken rhythm.
大家随意	dàjiā suíyì	Inviting everyone to drink as they wish	Useful when you explicitly want to remove pressure to finish a drink.
以茶代酒	yǐ chá dài jiǔ	Using tea instead of alcohol for a toast	A clear non-alcohol option; do not present it as a trick or a refusal of friendship.

What 干杯 literally says

干 means dry or empty, and 杯 means cup or glass. Put together, 干杯 is the established expression for a toast. A literal reading can make the phrase sound like an order to finish the drink, but usage varies. In some groups people finish the glass, while in others they take one sip. Learn the local rhythm and never pressure someone who declines alcohol.

敬你 and formal toasts

敬 means to respect or offer respectfully. 敬你 or 敬您 can direct a toast to a specific person. In a formal banquet, seniority and seating may affect who speaks first, but the exact custom differs by region and organisation. When you do not know the protocol, a simple 干杯 with a respectful tone is safer than guessing at a hierarchy.

Building a toast with 为……干杯

The pattern 为 + subject + 干杯 creates a toast to a person, event or value. Examples include 为我们的友谊干杯 (“a toast to our friendship”), 为你的成功干杯 (“a toast to your success”) and 为今天的相聚干杯 (“a toast to today’s gathering”). Keep the sentence appropriate to the relationship and occasion.

Drinking boundaries and safety

A toast is not a test of loyalty, health or courage. Do not pressure a guest, colleague or friend to drink alcohol. People may decline for medical, religious, legal, personal or practical reasons, and none of those reasons requires an explanation. Never drink and drive, and check local law and venue rules. The safest toast is one that leaves the choice with each person.

Non-alcohol and lower-alcohol participation

以茶代酒 means using tea in place of alcohol for a toast. 大家随意 invites everyone to drink as they wish. You can also raise a glass without drinking from it. If you are hosting, state the choice clearly rather than making someone improvise. The social meaning comes from taking part and showing goodwill, not from the volume consumed.

Pronunciation and written form

干杯 is gānbēi. 敬 is jìng, with a fourth tone. 为 is wèi in this toast pattern. The simplified forms 干杯, 为 and 敬 become 乾杯, 為 or 爲, and 敬 in traditional Chinese depending on the system and regional convention. Do not mix writing systems without a deliberate design reason.

Banquet order, cups and eye contact

Formal banquet customs vary, but a few practical rules reduce mistakes: wait until the host or senior guest has begun, keep the toast brief, and do not reach across another person’s space. When clinking glasses, some people lower their glass slightly as a sign of respect; this is a courtesy, not a universal law. If you are not sure what to do, follow the host, keep your tone respectful and avoid inventing a hierarchy.

What to say after 干杯

After the group says 干杯, people may add 谢谢, 祝你健康 (“wish you health”), 祝大家开心 (“wish everyone happiness”) or a short sentence tied to the occasion. Keep the wish accurate and do not turn it into a promise about health, wealth or success. For a business meal, a neutral wish such as 合作顺利 (“may the collaboration go smoothly”) may fit better than a personal blessing.

Common mistakes

Treating 干杯 as a command that everyone must empty an alcoholic glass.
Using 敬你 with a senior person when 敬您 fits the relationship better.
Building a toast with 为……干杯 but omitting the subject or occasion.
Assuming every region, family or workplace follows the same banquet protocol.
Reciting a clever phrase while ignoring a person’s clear choice not to drink.

Frequently asked questions

How do you say cheers in Chinese?

干杯 (gānbēi) is the common expression for cheers. 敬你 or 敬您 directs a toast to a person, and 为……干杯 means a toast to something.

Does 干杯 mean I must finish the drink?

No, not universally. 干杯 literally contains the idea of an empty cup, but customs vary and no one should be pressured to finish alcohol.

How do you toast a person in Chinese?

敬你 (jìng nǐ) is a directed toast to someone close, while 敬您 (jìng nín) is more respectful. A more formal sentence can be 我先敬您一杯.

How can I toast without alcohol?

You can use 以茶代酒, meaning to use tea instead of alcohol, or say 大家随意 to invite everyone to drink as they wish.

How do you say cheers in Mandarin?

The general toast is 干杯 (gānbēi). 大家一起干杯 is a group toast, and 我敬您一杯 is a more personal and respectful toast. 为……干杯 introduces the reason for the toast.

Do I have to finish the drink after 干杯?

No. 干杯 is a social cue to raise and take a drink; the amount is a personal choice. If you do not drink alcohol, 我以茶代酒 is a clear way to participate without pretending the cup contains alcohol.

What should I say after someone says 干杯?

You can repeat 干杯 and take a drink, or answer 谢谢 when someone has toasted you. 大家随意 makes it clear that no one must finish the glass; never pressure someone to drink alcohol.

Can I say 干杯 without alcohol?

Yes. 干杯 describes the toast and the shared moment, not a mandatory alcoholic drink. 以茶代酒 explicitly means using tea instead of alcohol, and raising a glass without drinking can also be acceptable.

What is the difference between 干杯 and 敬酒?

干杯 is the general shared toast, while 敬酒 is a toast directed at a particular person or group as a sign of respect, thanks or good wishes. 碰杯 is the act of clinking glasses, and 祝酒 is a more formal toast or toast speech. The words often appear together, but they describe different parts of the social action.

Does 干杯 mean I have to finish the drink?

No. 干杯 is an invitation to raise a glass and take a drink; the amount is a personal choice. If you do not want to finish the glass, 我随意 or 大家随意 makes the boundary clear. If you do not drink alcohol, 我以茶代酒 explicitly means using tea instead.

How do I politely refuse alcohol in Chinese?

Use 我不喝酒 (“I don’t drink alcohol”), 我不能喝 (“I can’t drink”), or 我开车 (“I’m driving”). To join the toast without alcohol, say 我以茶代酒. A host or friend should accept a refusal with 好，随意, 没关系 or 我尊重你, without asking for private medical information or pressuring the person.

Is 干杯 written 乾杯 in traditional Chinese?

Yes. Simplified 干杯 is written 乾杯 in traditional Chinese. In this phrase 干 is read gān, first tone, and the traditional form is 乾. Do not confuse it with 干活 (gàn huó), where the traditional form is 幹活.

Toast forms

Cheers in Chinese toast: 干杯, 敬你 and 为……干杯

“Cheers” is not one fixed toast in Chinese. 干杯 is the general invitation to drink, 敬你 or 敬您 is a personal toast, and 为……干杯 builds a toast around a person, occasion or wish. The choice depends on whether you are starting the table, honouring one person or proposing a shared reason.

How to say cheers in Mandarin at a meal
Chinese	Pinyin	Function
干杯	gānbēi	The default “cheers”; often said when raising glasses together.
大家一起干杯	dàjiā yìqǐ gānbēi	Let everyone drink together; useful for a group toast.
我敬你一杯	wǒ jìng nǐ yì bēi	I raise a glass to you; personal and respectful.
我敬您一杯	wǒ jìng nín yì bēi	The 您 form, appropriate for an elder, guest or formal relationship.
为我们的友谊干杯	wèi wǒmen de yǒuyì gānbēi	A toast to our friendship; 为 introduces the reason.
为健康干杯	wèi jiànkāng gānbēi	A toast to health; useful when the occasion does not centre on alcohol.

Do not treat 干杯 as a command to empty the glass. In many settings it is a social cue to take a drink, and the amount is governed by personal choice, local custom and safety. If you do not drink alcohol, 我以茶代酒 (“I use tea instead of alcohol”) is a clear way to participate without pretending the cup contains alcohol.

Learning one group toast and one personal toast is usually enough for a first meal: 大家一起干杯 and 我敬您一杯. Add the reason with 为……干杯 only when you can say the full phrase naturally.

Toast vocabulary

敬酒, 碰杯 and 干杯: who does what at a Chinese toast

Chinese table toasts use several related words that English “cheers” flattens into one, and the 酒桌 (table setting) and its 礼仪 (etiquette) vary by region, generation and setting. 干杯 is the general invitation to drink, 敬酒 is to propose a toast to a particular person, 碰杯 is the act of clinking glasses, and 祝酒 is a more formal toast or toast speech. A 主人 (host) may toast a 客人 (guest), and younger people may toast 长辈 (elders) first, but treat the table as vocabulary and context rather than a rigid rulebook.

敬酒, 碰杯 and 干杯: toast words compared
Chinese	Pinyin	Core meaning	How it works at a table
干杯	gānbēi	Cheers; drink up	The default shared toast. The amount you drink is a personal choice, even where the phrase literally says “dry cup.”
敬酒	jìngjiǔ	To propose or offer a toast	Directed at a person or group as a sign of respect, thanks or good wishes. It does not mean forcing someone to drink.
碰杯	pèngbēi	To clink glasses	The physical act that often accompanies the toast. A simple 干杯 may follow or accompany it.
祝酒	zhùjiǔ	To offer a formal toast	Used for a toast speech or a more ceremonial moment, such as a banquet, wedding or company dinner.
先干为敬	xiān gān wéi jìng	I drink first as a sign of respect	Traditional and formal. It expresses respect or sincerity; it should never be turned into a demand that others empty their glass.
随意	suíyì	As you like; no pressure	Useful after a toast to make clear that the other person may drink as much or as little as they choose.
以茶代酒	yǐ chá dài jiǔ	Use tea in place of alcohol	A clear, respectful way to join a toast without alcohol. Tea, soft drinks or water can carry the social gesture.
走一个	zǒu yí ge	Let’s have one (colloquial)	Very casual and usually between friends or peers. Avoid it in a formal or unfamiliar setting.

A simple personal toast can be 我敬您一杯 (“I raise a glass to you”), while a group toast can be 大家一起干杯 (“everyone, let’s toast together”). If you are proposing and do not want to pressure anyone, say 我先干，你随意 (“I’ll drink first; please do as you like”). The point is the shared moment, not control over another person’s cup.

Boundaries and refusal

我不能喝, 我开车 and 以茶代酒: declining alcohol politely

No one should be pressured to drink alcohol. A polite 婉拒 (refusal) is not a rejection of the host, and health, medication, pregnancy, religion, driving, age and personal preference are all valid reasons. A refusal does not need a long explanation. The phrases below keep the refusal clear while still participating in the social moment.

Polite ways to decline or limit alcohol in Chinese
Chinese	Pinyin	Meaning	When it fits
我不喝酒	wǒ bù hē jiǔ	I don’t drink alcohol	A clear personal boundary. It states the fact without asking for permission.
我不能喝	wǒ bù néng hē	I can’t drink	Direct and firm. Depending on tone, it can suggest a health, medication or other practical reason.
我开车	wǒ kāi chē	I’m driving	A common practical reason to decline. Safety should end the discussion.
我以茶代酒	wǒ yǐ chá dài jiǔ	I’ll use tea instead of alcohol	Join the toast without alcohol while making the social gesture explicit.
我随意，你随意	wǒ suíyì, nǐ suíyì	I’ll take it easy; you take it easy too	Lowers pressure on both sides when nobody wants a drinking contest.
谢谢，我不喝了	xièxie, wǒ bù hē le	Thank you, I won’t drink any more	A polite stop after you have already had a drink or joined the toast.
没关系，我喝这个	méi guānxi, wǒ hē zhège	It’s fine, I’ll drink this	Accept the social moment using tea, water or a soft drink.
大家随意	dàjiā suíyì	Everyone, as you like	Useful for a host: it signals that no one is required to finish a drink.

Safety (安全) and moderation (节制) matter more than finishing the glass. If someone declines, the safe reply is 好，随意 (“okay, as you like”), 没关系 (“it’s fine”) or 我尊重你 (“I respect your choice”). Do not ask for private medical information, do not refill a glass without consent, and do not treat drinking as a test of friendship, masculinity or respect. A toast can be completed with tea, water or no alcohol at all.

For the courtesy words around a meal, compare thank you in Chinese and you’re welcome in Chinese. Both are more useful than trying to memorise a long banquet script.

Pronunciation and writing

干杯 or 乾杯? 拼音, 声调 and 繁体 forms

The 拼音 (romanisation), 声调 (tone), 读音 (reading) and written form matter as much as the English gloss. 干杯 is the simplified form; in traditional Chinese it is written 乾杯. Do not mix simplified 干 with traditional 杯 in the same short phrase unless the design or document has a deliberate reason.

Cheers phrases: pinyin, tones and simplified or traditional forms
Simplified	Traditional	Pinyin 拼音	声调 and 繁体 / 简体 note
干杯	乾杯	gān bēi	First tone + first tone. In this phrase 干 is gān, not gàn, and the traditional form is 乾, not 幹.
敬酒	敬酒	jìng jiǔ	Fourth tone + third tone. The phrase is the same in both writing systems.
碰杯	碰杯	pèng bēi	Fourth tone + first tone. The phrase is the same in both writing systems.
祝酒	祝酒	zhù jiǔ	Fourth tone + third tone. Often used for a formal toast or toast speech.
随意	隨意	suí yì	Second tone + fourth tone. The simplified 随 is 隨 in traditional writing.
以茶代酒	以茶代酒	yǐ chá dài jiǔ	Third + second + fourth + third tone. The phrase is the same in both systems.
先干为敬	先乾為敬	xiān gān wéi jìng	First + first + second + fourth tone. 为 becomes 為 in traditional writing and 干 becomes 乾.

Do not assume that 干 always has the same reading. In 干活 (gàn huó, to work) it is fourth tone and the traditional form is 幹活; in 干杯 (gān bēi, cheers) it is first tone and the traditional form is 乾杯. The surrounding word decides both the sound and the traditional character.

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Related everyday phrases

Cheers 干杯 sits among these expressions, but the polite or natural choice still depends on the relationship, time of day and whether the setting is spoken or written.

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