How to Say Cheers in Japanese: Kanpai, Toasting Etiquette, and Examples

Key takeaways

• 乾杯 (kanpai) is the standard Japanese toast, used at the start of almost any social drinking occasion, from formal banquets to casual izakaya gatherings
• The word 乾杯 literally means dry the cup (乾 kan: dry; 杯 pai: cup/glass), implying you drink the whole glass in one go, though in practice most people take a single sip or drink at their own pace
• Japanese drinking etiquette has distinct social rules: wait for kanpai before drinking, do not pour your own drink, and try to keep others’ glasses filled. Ignoring these signals indifference to the group
• If you do not drink alcohol, politely declining and holding a non-alcoholic drink for the toast is completely acceptable. The toast is a social moment, not a requirement to consume alcohol

At virtually every social gathering in Japan, drinking begins the same way: someone raises a glass, says 乾杯 (kanpai), glasses come together, and everyone drinks. That single word carries with it a set of social practices that structure the entire drinking occasion.

Understanding what kanpai means, when to say it, and how drinking etiquette works in Japan helps you participate fully in one of the country’s most common social rituals. italki connects learners with Japanese teachers who can explain the cultural layer behind phrases like kanpai and help you navigate Japanese social contexts naturally.

This guide covers kanpai, related toasting expressions, the social etiquette of Japanese drinking culture, how to handle not drinking alcohol, and the language around izakaya and drinking occasions.

乾杯 (kanpai): the standard toast

Japanese	Romaji	Meaning
乾杯	kanpai	Cheers / Toast
乾	kan	Dry
杯	pai	Cup / glass

乾杯 (kanpai) literally means empty the cup or drain the glass and is used as a toast at the start of drinking. In practice, draining the glass is not required; the gesture of raising your glass and saying kanpai together marks the beginning of the meal or gathering.

Pronunciation: KAN-pai. The stress falls lightly on the first syllable. The word is often called out loudly and enthusiastically, especially in casual settings.

When to say it:

• At the beginning of a dinner or drinking party, after everyone has been poured a drink
• When one person officially starts the toast (often the most senior person at a business gathering, or whoever organized the party in social situations)
• After someone delivers a few words of opening remarks (乾杯の挨拶, kanpai no aisatsu: opening toast speech)

Do not drink before kanpai is called. Waiting shows respect for the group and the occasion.

The kanpai ritual: what to do

Step 1: Everyone at the table gets a drink poured. If you have not been given a drink yet, wait or ask. Beginning kanpai before everyone has a glass is considered impolite.

Step 2: Someone raises a glass and calls for kanpai. In formal settings (company parties, weddings), this person may say a few words first. In casual settings (izakaya with friends), someone simply raises their glass and says 乾杯！

Step 3: Everyone raises their glass and says 乾杯 together. Glasses may be clinked (especially in casual settings with friends) or simply raised without clinking (more common in formal or business settings).

Clinking etiquette: When clinking glasses, hold your glass slightly lower than the glass of someone senior to you. This signals respect. With friends of equal standing, the height difference does not matter.

Step 4: Take a sip. You do not need to drain the glass, though calling 一気 (ikki: drink it in one go!) among friends is a party chant sometimes used in casual settings.

Step 5: Drinking begins. From this point, glasses are refilled by others at the table (see etiquette section below).

Formal versus casual drinking contexts

Context	Setting	Language register	Notes
歓迎会 (kangeikai)	Welcome party (for new employees, new team members)	Semi-formal	Usually organized; kanpai caller is the senior member
忘年会 (bōnenkai)	Year-end party (December office party)	Semi-formal to festive	One of the biggest annual social events in Japan
新年会 (shinnenkai)	New year party (January)	Semi-formal to festive	Similar to bōnenkai in structure
結婚式の披露宴 (kekkonshiki no hiroen)	Wedding reception	Formal	Multiple toasts throughout the dinner; specific protocols
飲み会 (nomikai)	General drinking party / after-work drinks	Casual	Common social event among colleagues, friends, club members
居酒屋 (izakaya)	Japanese pub	Casual	The most common setting for after-work and casual drinking
打ち上げ (uchi-age)	Celebration after completing a project or event	Casual to semi-formal	Toast often acknowledges the completed work

A Japanese tutor can prepare you for the specific etiquette of these contexts before you attend one, so you know what to expect and what is expected of you.

Other toasting and drinking expressions

Japanese	Romaji	English	Use
お疲れ様でした	otsukaresama deshita	Good work today / Thank you for your hard work	Said after work; common start to informal after-work drinks
お疲れ様です	otsukare-sama desu	(same, but present/ongoing acknowledgment)	Said among colleagues throughout the day
ご健康に	go kenkō ni	To your health	Formal toast at weddings or speeches
皆さんのご発展に	mina-san no go-hatten ni	To everyone’s success	Formal toast at business events
一気！一気！	ikki! ikki!	Drink it down! Bottoms up!	Casual chant among friends; NOT appropriate in formal contexts
お酒が弱いです	osake ga yowai desu	I am not good with alcohol	Polite way to express low alcohol tolerance
ほどほどに	hodohodo ni	In moderation	Said as advice or reminder to drink in moderation

Japanese drinking etiquette rules

These rules are observed in most social drinking settings, from casual to formal:

Do not pour your own drink. In a group setting, others will pour for you and you pour for others. Pouring your own drink signals that no one is paying attention to you, which is socially awkward. If your glass is empty, you may need to offer to refill someone else’s first, which prompts them to reciprocate.

Watch others’ glasses. When you notice someone’s glass is getting low, offer to refill it before it is empty. This is an act of social attentiveness (気遣い, kizukai).

How to offer a refill: Hold the bottle in both hands or with one hand and support the wrist or elbow with the other. This is the formal and respectful way to pour.

How to receive a pour: Lift your glass slightly from the table with both hands to show you are accepting. Do not leave it on the table while someone pours.

Wait for kanpai before drinking. Drinking before the toast signals impatience with the group.

Do not leave long gaps in conversation. The drinking gathering (飲み会, nomikai) is as much about bonding as it is about drinking. Staying engaged in conversation matters.

After the meal: It is common to move on to a second location called 二次会 (nijikai: second party) and sometimes a third (三次会, sanjikai). You are not obligated to attend all rounds.

Not drinking alcohol: what to say and do

You can participate fully in a Japanese drinking occasion without consuming alcohol. The toast is a social ritual, not an alcohol requirement.

Situation	What to say	Notes
You don’t drink	お酒は飲まないので、ソフトドリンクでいいですか？ (osake wa nomanai no de, sofuto dorinku de ii desu ka: I don’t drink, is a soft drink OK?)	Ask when ordering or before the kanpai
You are driving	今日は車なので (kyō wa kuruma na no de: I am driving today)	Universally understood reason; no pressure to explain further
You have a health reason	体の都合で (karada no tsugou de: due to health reasons)	Vague but respected; no follow-up questions are usually asked
Low tolerance	お酒が弱くて (osake ga yowakute: I have low alcohol tolerance)	Acceptable; no pressure to drink more than you want
Non-alcoholic substitute	ノンアルコールでお願いします (non-arukōru de onegai shimasu: non-alcoholic please)	Many Japanese establishments offer excellent non-alcoholic options

During the kanpai itself: hold your soft drink or non-alcoholic beer and raise it with everyone. The gesture of participation is what matters, not the contents of the glass.

Izakaya vocabulary

The 居酒屋 (izakaya) is the most common venue for drinking occasions in Japan. Knowing the vocabulary makes the experience smoother.

Japanese	Romaji	English
居酒屋	izakaya	Japanese pub-style restaurant
飲み放題	nomihodai	All-you-can-drink (set price for a time period)
食べ放題	tabehodai	All-you-can-eat
お通し	otoshi	Mandatory small appetizer dish (cover charge in food form)
一人一品	hitori ichi-hin	One item minimum per person
締め	shime	Final dish at the end of a meal (often ramen or rice)
お会計	okaikei	The bill / check
割り勘	warikan	Splitting the bill equally
幹事	kanji	Party organizer; person who manages the booking and bill
貸し切り	kashikiri	Private reservation of the whole venue

Common drinks and how to order them

Japanese	Romaji	English
生ビール	nama biiru	Draft beer
日本酒	nihonshu	Sake (Japanese rice wine)
焼酎	shōchū	Shochu (Japanese distilled spirit)
ハイボール	haibōru	Highball (whisky with soda water)
チューハイ	chūhai	Chuhai (shochu with fruit soda; various flavors)
ワイン	wain	Wine
ウーロン茶	ūron cha	Oolong tea (common non-alcoholic option)
ジャスミン茶	jasumin cha	Jasmine tea
コーラ	kōra	Cola
お水	omizu	Water

Ordering: すみません、生ビールを二つお願いします (sumimasen, nama biiru wo futatsu onegai shimasu: Excuse me, two draft beers please).

Japanese food culture gives more context for eating and social dining, where toasts like 乾杯 often appear.

After the toast: end-of-evening phrases

Japanese	Romaji	English	Use
お疲れ様でした	otsukaresama deshita	Good work / Thanks for tonight	Said at the end of an evening among colleagues
また飲みに行きましょう	mata nomi ni ikimashou	Let’s go drinking again sometime	Friendly closing phrase
楽しかったです	tanoshikatta desu	That was fun	Expressing you enjoyed the evening
お先に失礼します	osaki ni shitsurei shimasu	Excuse me for leaving first	When leaving before others
気をつけて帰ってね	ki wo tsukete kaette ne	Take care on your way home (casual)	Said among friends
お気をつけてお帰りください	o-ki wo tsukete o-kaeri kudasai	Please take care on your way home (formal)	Said to guests or at formal events

Practice Japanese social language with a tutor

Social language in Japanese is deeply tied to cultural context, and no vocabulary list fully prepares you for the real rhythm of a kanpai, a nomikai, or an izakaya evening. What you need is practice that simulates the social conversation: how to make small talk, how to accept or decline a drink gracefully, and how to navigate the second and third rounds. italki has 30,000+ expert tutors trusted by over 10 million learners worldwide, including Japanese tutors who can walk you through these social scenarios and help you develop the confidence to participate naturally. Book a trial lesson and get ready for your next Japanese social occasion.

FAQ

Is it rude to refuse alcohol at a Japanese work party?

It used to be more socially pressured to drink at work gatherings in Japan, but attitudes have changed significantly, particularly in the last decade. Today, politely declining alcohol is broadly accepted, especially if you offer a reason (driving, health, preference). Having a non-alcoholic drink in hand for the kanpai and participating in the social conversation is what matters. Most colleagues and managers will not push you to drink if you have declined. If someone does pressure you, a calm but clear repeat of your reason is sufficient.

What does 一気 (ikki) mean and when should you say it?

一気 (ikki) means in one breath or all at once and is used as a chant at parties to encourage someone to finish their drink quickly. It is a party game element rather than a serious expectation. 一気 is casual, festive, and associated with youthful party culture and drinking games. It is completely inappropriate in business settings, formal dinners, or weddings, and is even considered excessive at many adult social gatherings. If you hear it chanted at a party, you can choose to join in the chant without being the one drinking.

What is the difference between 乾杯 (kanpai) and 乾杯の音頭 (kanpai no ondo)?

乾杯 is the toast word itself. 乾杯の音頭 (kanpai no ondo) refers to the act of leading the toast: the person who stands up, says a few words, and then calls the group to kanpai. At formal events, this role is given to a senior or honored person and is a small honor. 音頭を取る (ondo wo toru) means to lead the toast or take charge of the kanpai moment.