干杯
gān bēi
Cheers · trad. 乾杯
干杯 (gānbēi) is the most common way to say "cheers" or "bottoms up" in Mandarin Chinese, typically used when making a toast with drinks. It literally means "dry the cup."
When to use it
Neutral and widely used. For a less "bottoms up" feel, you can say 敬你 (jìng nǐ), meaning "to your health/respect you." The host might say 随意 (suíyì) to guests, meaning they don't have to finish their glass. When someone says 干杯, you can respond with 干杯 or simply drink.
How to pronounce it
Sounds like "GAN-bay." Both syllables are high, flat tones.
Other ways to say it
- 敬你jìng nǐto your health / respect you (a general toast)
- 祝你健康zhù nǐ jiàn kāngto your health (a specific toast)
- 随意suí yìas you please (said by host, meaning no need to finish)
Examples
让我们为友谊干杯！
ràng wǒ men wèi yǒu yì gān bēi ！
Let's toast to friendship!
干杯！新年快乐！
gān bēi ！ xīn nián kuài lè ！
Cheers! Happy New Year!
敬你一杯，祝你事业顺利！
jìng nǐ yì bēi ， zhù nǐ shì yè shùn lì ！
I toast you a cup, wishing you success in your career!
Pro tip: While 干杯 literally means "bottoms up," it's not always strictly required to finish your entire drink, especially in casual settings. However, in more formal or enthusiastic toasts, it's often expected.
Related phrases
新年快乐 · Happy new year恭喜 · Congratulations生日快乐 · Happy birthday
Want to speak Chinese for real?
Start a free lesson with a native teacher →
Start a free lesson with a native teacher →