- Cheers = かんぱい (乾杯), literally “dry the glass”.
- Wait until everyone has a drink before the toast; nobody drinks before かんぱい.
- Pour for others, not for yourself; someone will fill your glass.
- Say no politely with もうけっこうです or だいじょうぶです.
かんぱい: the toast
- かんぱい！kanpai!Cheers!
- おつかれさまです！かんぱい！otsukaresama desu! kanpai!Good work, everyone! Cheers!Classic start after work.
At work events, the most senior person or the organiser often gives a short speech before calling かんぱい. Clink glasses gently; with seniors, it’s polite to hold your glass slightly lower than theirs.
Ordering drinks
- とりあえずビールtoriaezu bīruA beer to start (please)Famous izakaya phrase: “for now, beer”.
- なまビールをふたつくださいnama bīru o futatsu kudasaiTwo draft beers, please.
- おさけはのめませんosake wa nomemasenI can’t drink alcohol.
- ソフトドリンクはありますかsofuto dorinku wa arimasu kaDo you have soft drinks?
- おかわりくださいokawari kudasaiAnother one, please.
- のみほうだいはありますかnomihōdai wa arimasu kaIs there an all-you-can-drink option?Nomihōdai: pay a fixed price for a set time, often 90–120 minutes.
Drinks you’ll see on the menu
| Japanese | Reading | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| ビール | bīru | beer (なまビール = draft) |
| にほんしゅ | nihonshu | sake (rice wine); also called おさけ |
| しょうちゅう | shōchū | distilled spirit (barley, sweet potato, rice…) |
| ハイボール | haibōru | whisky and soda |
| サワー | sawā | shōchū with fruit juice and soda |
| うめしゅ | umeshu | plum liqueur |
| ウーロンちゃ | ūroncha | oolong tea (non-alcoholic) |
Drinking etiquette
- Wait for the toast. Don’t sip before かんぱい.
- Pour for others. Keep an eye on your neighbours’ glasses and top them up. Someone will do the same for you.
- Hold your glass when someone pours for you, ideally with both hands for seniors.
- Leave some in your glass if you don’t want more; an empty glass invites a refill.
- The legal drinking age in Japan is 20.
Saying no politely
- もうけっこうですmō kekkō desuI’ve had enough, thank you.
- だいじょうぶですdaijōbu desuI’m fine, thanks.
- あしたはやいので…ashita hayai node…I have an early start tomorrow, so…
Ending the evening
- ごちそうさまでしたgochisōsama deshitaThank you for the meal/drinks.
- にじかいにいきますかnijikai ni ikimasu kaShall we go to the second party?Nijikai: the after-party, often karaoke.
- おつかれさまでしたotsukaresama deshitaGood night, thanks for today.
Izakaya check0/3
How do you say cheers?
You don’t want more to drink:
The after-party is called:
Frequently asked questions
How do you say cheers in Japanese?
Cheers is 乾杯 (kanpai), literally meaning 'dry the glass'. Everyone waits to drink until the toast.
What is nomihōdai?
飲み放題 (nomihōdai) is an all-you-can-drink deal: you pay a fixed price and can order from a drinks menu for a set time, typically 90 to 120 minutes.
What is the drinking age in Japan?
The legal drinking age in Japan is 20.