Home > Resources > 中國人的敬酒文化 / 中国人的敬酒文化 / Toasting culture
中國人的敬酒文化 / 中国人的敬酒文化 / Toasting culture, by Sharon
Traditional Chinese
中國人喜歡在筵席上飲酒、敬酒，一開始筵席邀請人請大家共舉酒杯謝謝大家光臨，在吃飯聊天間再找機會互相敬酒，通常不會獨自喝酒。敬酒時常常會說「乾杯」，如果不勝酒力也可以說「隨意」。晚輩要先向長輩敬酒，要隨時幫長輩斟酒，而且最好雙手舉杯。
Simplified Chinese
中国人的敬酒文化
中国人喜欢在筵席上饮酒、敬酒，一开始筵席邀请人请大家共举酒杯谢谢大家光临，在吃饭聊天间再找机会互相敬酒，通常不会独自喝酒。敬酒时常常会说「干杯」，如果不胜酒力不想干杯也可以「随意」不喝完。晚辈要先向长辈敬酒，最好双手举杯，而且要随时帮长辈斟酒。
Pinyin
Zhōngguórén de jìngjiǔ wénhuà
Zhōngguórén xǐhuān zài yánxí shàng yǐnjiǔ , jìngjiǔ , yī kāishǐ yànxí yāoqǐngrén qǐng dàjiā gòng jǔ jiǔbēi xièxie dàjiā guānglín, zài chīfàn liáotiān jiān zài zhǎo jīhuì hùxiāng jìngjiǔ , tōngcháng bù huì dúzì hē jiǔ . Jìngjiǔ cháng cháng huì shuō “gānbēi”, rúguǒ bù shēng jiǔlì bù xiǎng gānbēi yě kěyǐ ”suíyì “ bù hē wán. Wǎn bèi yào xiān xiàng zhǎngbèi jìngjiǔ, zuìhǎo shuāngshǒu jǔ bēi , érqiě yào suíshí bāng zhǎngbèi zhēn jiǔ.
Translation in English
Chinese Toasting culture
Chinese like to drink wine and to toast to each other at banquet. At the first beginning the inviter of the party would toast to guests all together to welcome them. During eating and chatting everyone on the table would find chances to toast to each other. Normally people don’t drink alone. Chinese would say “gānbēi” and drink a glass of wine, if you don’t like to drink whole glass of wine you may say “suíyì”. The younger generation better use two hands to hold up the glass to toast the older generation first and also have to pour wine for the older at the right time.
生詞／生词／Vocabulary
1. 敬酒／敬酒
［jìng jiǔ］VA, to toast / to propose a toast
請向新郎新娘敬酒。
请向新郎新娘敬酒。
Qǐng xiàng xīnláng xīnniáng jìngjiǔ.
Please propose a toast the groom and bride.
2. 文化／文化
［wén huà］N, culture / civilization / cultural / CL:個／个[ge4],種|种[zhong3]
學習中文也是在學習中國文化。
学习中文也是在学习中国文化。
Learning Chinese is learning Chinese culture too.
3. 筵席／筵席
［yàn xí］N, banquet / mat for sitting
王先生的筵席在本餐廳六樓。
王先生的筵席在本餐厅六楼。
Wáng xiānsheng de yán xí zài běn cān tīng liù .
Banquet of Mr.s Wang is set on 6th floor of our restaurant.
4. 饮／飲
［yǐn］VA, to drink
做人應當飲水思源。
做人应当饮水思源。
Zuò rén yīngdāng yǐn shuǐ sī yuán.
When you drink water, think of its source.
5. 邀请／邀請
［yāo qǐng］VA, to invite / invitation / CL:個／个[ge4]
張先生邀請我到他家吃飯。
張先生邀請我到他家吃飯。
Zhāng xiānsheng yāo qǐng Wǒ dào tā jiā chīfàn.
Mr. Zhang invited me to have a meal at his house.
6. 共／共
［gòng］Adv VS Adv, common / general / to share / together / total / altogether
我和我先生共舉酒杯，謝謝李夫婦的邀請。
我和我先生共举酒杯，谢谢李夫妇的邀请。
Wǒ hé Wǒ xiānsheng gòng jǔ jiǔbēi , xièxie Lǐ fūfù de yāoqǐng.
I and my husband hold the wine glass together to toast and thank Mr. & Mrs. Li’s invitation.
7. 举／舉
［jǔ］ VA, to lift / to hold up / to cite / to enumerate / to act / to raise / to choose / to elect
他舉手要求發言。
他举手要求发言。
Tā jǔshǒu yāoqiú yán.
He lifted his hand to request to say something.
8. 酒杯／酒杯
［jiǔ bēi］N, wine cup
桌子上擺了各種酒杯。
桌子上摆了各种酒杯。
Zhuōzi shàng bǎile gèzhǒng jiǔbēi.
They put every kind of wine cup on the table.
9. 光临／光臨
［guāng lín］VA, (honorific) Welcome! / You honor us with your presence. / It is an honor to have you.
歡迎光臨本餐廳！
欢迎光临本餐厅！
Huānyíng guānglín běn cāntīng !
Welcome to our restaurant.
10. 吃饭／吃飯
［chī fàn］VA, to eat a meal
晚上要不要來我家？我請你吃飯？
晚上要不要来我家？我请你吃饭？
Wǎnshang yào bu yào lái wǒ jiā ? Wǒ qǐng nǐ chīfàn ?
Would you like to come to my house for a dinner this evening?
11. 聊天／聊天
［liáo tiān］VA, to chat / to gossip
王太太很喜歡打電話聊天。
王太太很喜欢打电话聊天。
Wáng tàitai hěn xǐhuān dǎ diànhuà liáotiān .
Mrs. Wang likes to chat on the phone.
12. 互相／互相
［hù xiāng］Adv, each other / mutually / mutual
同事間應該互相幫忙。
同事间应该互相帮忙。
Tóngshì jiān yīnggāi hùxiāng bāngmáng .
Colleagues should help each other.
13. 通常／通常
［tōng cháng］Adv, regular / usual / normal / usually / normally
我通常搭早上八點的公車到公司。
我通常搭早上八点的公交车到公司。
I usually take the bus at 8 o’clock to my company in the morning.
14. 独自／獨自
［dú zì］Adv, alone
這個專案是我獨自完成的。
这个项目是我独自完成的。
Zhè ge zhuān àn shì wǒ dúzì wánchéng de .
I finished this project alone.
15. 干杯／乾杯
［gān bēi］VA, to drink a toast / Cheers! (proposing a toast) / Here's to you! / Bottoms up! / lit. dry cup
在吃飯時，他一直找人乾杯，結果就醉了。
在吃饭时，他一直找人干杯，结果就醉了。
Zài chīfàn shí , tā yīzhí zhǎo rén gānbēi , jiéguǒ jiù zuì le.
He was asking to drink and bottoms up, and then he got drunk during the dinner.
16. 随意／隨意
［suí yì］VS, as one wishes / according to one's wishes / at will / voluntary / conscious
王先生很客氣的說：「您隨意，我乾杯。」
王先生很客气的说：「您随意，我干杯。」
Wáng xiānsheng hěn kèqi de shuō : 「nín suíyì , Wǒ gānbēi . 」
Mr Wang very politely said, “You drink as your wish, I bottom up.”
17. 晚辈／晚輩
［wǎn bèi］N, the younger generation / those who come after
我比他晚了三年進公司，所以我是他的晚輩。
我比他晚了三年进公司，所以我是他的晚辈。
Wǒ bǐ tā wǎn le sān nián jìn gōngsī , suǒyǐ Wǒ shì tā de wǎn bèi .
I joined this company 3 years later than he, so I am younger generation for him.
18. 长辈／長輩
［zhǎng bèi］N, one's elders / older generation
中國人傳統上都會尊敬長輩。
中国人传统上都会尊敬长辈。
Zhōngguórén chuántǒng shàng dōuhuì zūnjìng zhǎngbèi .
Chinese traditionally all respect the older generation.
19. 而且／而且
［ér qiě］Conj, (not only ...) but also / moreover / in addition / furthermore
陳先生拜訪了那家公司，而且拿到了訂單。
陈先生拜访了那家公司，而且拿到了订单。
Chén xiānsheng bài fǎngle nà jiā gōngsī , érqiě ná dào le dìngdān .
Mr. Chen not only visited that company, but also got the purchase order.
20. 最好／最好
［zuì hǎo］Adv, best / (you) had better (do what we suggest)
他是我們公司很重要的客戶，你最好親自去拜訪他。
他是我们公司很重要的客户，你最好亲自去拜访他。
Tā shì wǒmen gōngsī hěn chòng yào de kèhù , nǐ zuì hǎo qīnzì qù bàifǎng tā .
He is a very important customer to our company, you’d better to visit him in person.
21. 随时／隨時
［suí shí］Adv, at any time / at all times / at the right time
我把文件放在你的桌上，你隨時可以看看。
我把文件放在你的桌上，你随时可以看看。
Wǒ bǎ wénjiàn fàng zài nǐ de zhuō shàng , nǐ suíshí kěyǐ kànkan .
I put the document on your desk, you could check it at any time.
22. 斟／斟
［zhēn］VA, to pour / to deliberate
王先生的酒杯空了，我幫他斟酒。
王先生的酒杯空了，我帮他斟酒。
Wáng xiānsheng de jiǔbēi kōng le, Wǒ bāng tā zhēn jiǔ.
Mr. Wang’s wine glass is empty, I help him to pour the wine in.
惯用语／成語／Idiom
Traditional Chinese
不勝酒力
飲酒超過能承擔的界限，不能再喝。常用來形容酒量差，容易喝醉。如：「才一杯高梁酒下肚，他就不勝酒力，醉倒在一邊了。」
Simplified Chinese
不胜酒力
饮酒超过能承担的界限，不能再喝。常用来形容酒量差，容易喝醉。如：「才一杯高梁酒下肚，他就不胜酒力，醉倒在一边了。」
Pinyin
Bù shēng jiǔlì
Yǐnjiǔ chāoguò néng chéng dān de jièxiàn , bù néng zài hē. Cháng yòng lái xíngróng jiǔliàng chā , róngyì hēzuì. Rú : “Cái yī bēi gāoliáng jiǔ xiàdǔ, tā jiù bù shēng jiǔlì, zuì dǎo zài yī biān le.”
Translation in English
No able to bear to drink alcohol to exceed can to undertake boundary, to be unable to drink again. Frequently to use to describe a person’s alcohol volume to bear is not much, easy to get drunk. Example: “Only drank one cup of sorghum wine, he regarding no able to bear, intoxicated to fall down.”
Reference
台灣師大國語教育中心華語詞彙通：http://web.mtc.ntnu.edu.tw
MDBG:http://www.mdbg.net
中國人喜歡在筵席上飲酒、敬酒，一開始筵席邀請人請大家共舉酒杯謝謝大家光臨，在吃飯聊天間再找機會互相敬酒，通常不會獨自喝酒。敬酒時常常會說「乾杯」，如果不勝酒力也可以說「隨意」。晚輩要先向長輩敬酒，要隨時幫長輩斟酒，而且最好雙手舉杯。
Simplified Chinese
中国人的敬酒文化
中国人喜欢在筵席上饮酒、敬酒，一开始筵席邀请人请大家共举酒杯谢谢大家光临，在吃饭聊天间再找机会互相敬酒，通常不会独自喝酒。敬酒时常常会说「干杯」，如果不胜酒力不想干杯也可以「随意」不喝完。晚辈要先向长辈敬酒，最好双手举杯，而且要随时帮长辈斟酒。
Pinyin
Zhōngguórén de jìngjiǔ wénhuà
Zhōngguórén xǐhuān zài yánxí shàng yǐnjiǔ , jìngjiǔ , yī kāishǐ yànxí yāoqǐngrén qǐng dàjiā gòng jǔ jiǔbēi xièxie dàjiā guānglín, zài chīfàn liáotiān jiān zài zhǎo jīhuì hùxiāng jìngjiǔ , tōngcháng bù huì dúzì hē jiǔ . Jìngjiǔ cháng cháng huì shuō “gānbēi”, rúguǒ bù shēng jiǔlì bù xiǎng gānbēi yě kěyǐ ”suíyì “ bù hē wán. Wǎn bèi yào xiān xiàng zhǎngbèi jìngjiǔ, zuìhǎo shuāngshǒu jǔ bēi , érqiě yào suíshí bāng zhǎngbèi zhēn jiǔ.
Translation in English
Chinese Toasting culture
Chinese like to drink wine and to toast to each other at banquet. At the first beginning the inviter of the party would toast to guests all together to welcome them. During eating and chatting everyone on the table would find chances to toast to each other. Normally people don’t drink alone. Chinese would say “gānbēi” and drink a glass of wine, if you don’t like to drink whole glass of wine you may say “suíyì”. The younger generation better use two hands to hold up the glass to toast the older generation first and also have to pour wine for the older at the right time.
生詞／生词／Vocabulary
1. 敬酒／敬酒
［jìng jiǔ］VA, to toast / to propose a toast
請向新郎新娘敬酒。
请向新郎新娘敬酒。
Qǐng xiàng xīnláng xīnniáng jìngjiǔ.
Please propose a toast the groom and bride.
2. 文化／文化
［wén huà］N, culture / civilization / cultural / CL:個／个[ge4],種|种[zhong3]
學習中文也是在學習中國文化。
学习中文也是在学习中国文化。
Learning Chinese is learning Chinese culture too.
3. 筵席／筵席
［yàn xí］N, banquet / mat for sitting
王先生的筵席在本餐廳六樓。
王先生的筵席在本餐厅六楼。
Wáng xiānsheng de yán xí zài běn cān tīng liù .
Banquet of Mr.s Wang is set on 6th floor of our restaurant.
4. 饮／飲
［yǐn］VA, to drink
做人應當飲水思源。
做人应当饮水思源。
Zuò rén yīngdāng yǐn shuǐ sī yuán.
When you drink water, think of its source.
5. 邀请／邀請
［yāo qǐng］VA, to invite / invitation / CL:個／个[ge4]
張先生邀請我到他家吃飯。
張先生邀請我到他家吃飯。
Zhāng xiānsheng yāo qǐng Wǒ dào tā jiā chīfàn.
Mr. Zhang invited me to have a meal at his house.
6. 共／共
［gòng］Adv VS Adv, common / general / to share / together / total / altogether
我和我先生共舉酒杯，謝謝李夫婦的邀請。
我和我先生共举酒杯，谢谢李夫妇的邀请。
Wǒ hé Wǒ xiānsheng gòng jǔ jiǔbēi , xièxie Lǐ fūfù de yāoqǐng.
I and my husband hold the wine glass together to toast and thank Mr. & Mrs. Li’s invitation.
7. 举／舉
［jǔ］ VA, to lift / to hold up / to cite / to enumerate / to act / to raise / to choose / to elect
他舉手要求發言。
他举手要求发言。
Tā jǔshǒu yāoqiú yán.
He lifted his hand to request to say something.
8. 酒杯／酒杯
［jiǔ bēi］N, wine cup
桌子上擺了各種酒杯。
桌子上摆了各种酒杯。
Zhuōzi shàng bǎile gèzhǒng jiǔbēi.
They put every kind of wine cup on the table.
9. 光临／光臨
［guāng lín］VA, (honorific) Welcome! / You honor us with your presence. / It is an honor to have you.
歡迎光臨本餐廳！
欢迎光临本餐厅！
Huānyíng guānglín běn cāntīng !
Welcome to our restaurant.
10. 吃饭／吃飯
［chī fàn］VA, to eat a meal
晚上要不要來我家？我請你吃飯？
晚上要不要来我家？我请你吃饭？
Wǎnshang yào bu yào lái wǒ jiā ? Wǒ qǐng nǐ chīfàn ?
Would you like to come to my house for a dinner this evening?
11. 聊天／聊天
［liáo tiān］VA, to chat / to gossip
王太太很喜歡打電話聊天。
王太太很喜欢打电话聊天。
Wáng tàitai hěn xǐhuān dǎ diànhuà liáotiān .
Mrs. Wang likes to chat on the phone.
12. 互相／互相
［hù xiāng］Adv, each other / mutually / mutual
同事間應該互相幫忙。
同事间应该互相帮忙。
Tóngshì jiān yīnggāi hùxiāng bāngmáng .
Colleagues should help each other.
13. 通常／通常
［tōng cháng］Adv, regular / usual / normal / usually / normally
我通常搭早上八點的公車到公司。
我通常搭早上八点的公交车到公司。
I usually take the bus at 8 o’clock to my company in the morning.
14. 独自／獨自
［dú zì］Adv, alone
這個專案是我獨自完成的。
这个项目是我独自完成的。
Zhè ge zhuān àn shì wǒ dúzì wánchéng de .
I finished this project alone.
15. 干杯／乾杯
［gān bēi］VA, to drink a toast / Cheers! (proposing a toast) / Here's to you! / Bottoms up! / lit. dry cup
在吃飯時，他一直找人乾杯，結果就醉了。
在吃饭时，他一直找人干杯，结果就醉了。
Zài chīfàn shí , tā yīzhí zhǎo rén gānbēi , jiéguǒ jiù zuì le.
He was asking to drink and bottoms up, and then he got drunk during the dinner.
16. 随意／隨意
［suí yì］VS, as one wishes / according to one's wishes / at will / voluntary / conscious
王先生很客氣的說：「您隨意，我乾杯。」
王先生很客气的说：「您随意，我干杯。」
Wáng xiānsheng hěn kèqi de shuō : 「nín suíyì , Wǒ gānbēi . 」
Mr Wang very politely said, “You drink as your wish, I bottom up.”
17. 晚辈／晚輩
［wǎn bèi］N, the younger generation / those who come after
我比他晚了三年進公司，所以我是他的晚輩。
我比他晚了三年进公司，所以我是他的晚辈。
Wǒ bǐ tā wǎn le sān nián jìn gōngsī , suǒyǐ Wǒ shì tā de wǎn bèi .
I joined this company 3 years later than he, so I am younger generation for him.
18. 长辈／長輩
［zhǎng bèi］N, one's elders / older generation
中國人傳統上都會尊敬長輩。
中国人传统上都会尊敬长辈。
Zhōngguórén chuántǒng shàng dōuhuì zūnjìng zhǎngbèi .
Chinese traditionally all respect the older generation.
19. 而且／而且
［ér qiě］Conj, (not only ...) but also / moreover / in addition / furthermore
陳先生拜訪了那家公司，而且拿到了訂單。
陈先生拜访了那家公司，而且拿到了订单。
Chén xiānsheng bài fǎngle nà jiā gōngsī , érqiě ná dào le dìngdān .
Mr. Chen not only visited that company, but also got the purchase order.
20. 最好／最好
［zuì hǎo］Adv, best / (you) had better (do what we suggest)
他是我們公司很重要的客戶，你最好親自去拜訪他。
他是我们公司很重要的客户，你最好亲自去拜访他。
Tā shì wǒmen gōngsī hěn chòng yào de kèhù , nǐ zuì hǎo qīnzì qù bàifǎng tā .
He is a very important customer to our company, you’d better to visit him in person.
21. 随时／隨時
［suí shí］Adv, at any time / at all times / at the right time
我把文件放在你的桌上，你隨時可以看看。
我把文件放在你的桌上，你随时可以看看。
Wǒ bǎ wénjiàn fàng zài nǐ de zhuō shàng , nǐ suíshí kěyǐ kànkan .
I put the document on your desk, you could check it at any time.
22. 斟／斟
［zhēn］VA, to pour / to deliberate
王先生的酒杯空了，我幫他斟酒。
王先生的酒杯空了，我帮他斟酒。
Wáng xiānsheng de jiǔbēi kōng le, Wǒ bāng tā zhēn jiǔ.
Mr. Wang’s wine glass is empty, I help him to pour the wine in.
惯用语／成語／Idiom
Traditional Chinese
不勝酒力
飲酒超過能承擔的界限，不能再喝。常用來形容酒量差，容易喝醉。如：「才一杯高梁酒下肚，他就不勝酒力，醉倒在一邊了。」
Simplified Chinese
不胜酒力
饮酒超过能承担的界限，不能再喝。常用来形容酒量差，容易喝醉。如：「才一杯高梁酒下肚，他就不胜酒力，醉倒在一边了。」
Pinyin
Bù shēng jiǔlì
Yǐnjiǔ chāoguò néng chéng dān de jièxiàn , bù néng zài hē. Cháng yòng lái xíngróng jiǔliàng chā , róngyì hēzuì. Rú : “Cái yī bēi gāoliáng jiǔ xiàdǔ, tā jiù bù shēng jiǔlì, zuì dǎo zài yī biān le.”
Translation in English
No able to bear to drink alcohol to exceed can to undertake boundary, to be unable to drink again. Frequently to use to describe a person’s alcohol volume to bear is not much, easy to get drunk. Example: “Only drank one cup of sorghum wine, he regarding no able to bear, intoxicated to fall down.”
Reference
台灣師大國語教育中心華語詞彙通：http://web.mtc.ntnu.edu.tw
MDBG:http://www.mdbg.net