Business dinners & toasts in Chinese 商务宴请
shāngwù yànqǐng
Cheers! in Chinese is 干杯 (gān bēi).
Also searched for as: business dinner, toast in Chinese, cheers in Chinese, banquet etiquette, Chinese drinking culture.
Where deals get sealed: seating plans, toasts and baijiu. 15 essential business dinners & toasts words in Mandarin Chinese, with pinyin and English. Open it in the app to hear each word, tick off the ones you know and turn them into flashcards.
A business dinner, or 宴请 (yàn qǐng), is often where relationships in Chinese business are really built. Expect a private room, a 包间 (bāo jiān), a careful seating plan with the guest of honour in the 上座 (shàng zuò), and plenty of toasts, starting when the host stands to 敬酒 (jìng jiǔ). Knowing a few set phrases, and when to use them, helps you be a gracious guest or a confident host.
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 宴请 | yàn qǐng | to host a banquet; to wine and dine |
| 包间 | bāo jiān | private dining room |
| 上座 | shàng zuò | seat of honour; to take the seat of honour |
| 做东 | zuò dōng | to host; to treat (pay for a meal) |
| 敬酒 | jìng jiǔ | to propose a toast |
| 干杯 | gān bēi | cheers; bottoms up |
| 我先干为敬 | wǒ xiān gān wéi jìng | I'll drink first as a mark of respect |
| 随意 | suí yì | as you like (drink as much as you want) |
| 碰杯 | pèng bēi | to clink glasses |
| 白酒 | bái jiǔ | baijiu (Chinese spirit) |
| 酒量 | jiǔ liàng | capacity for alcohol |
| 以茶代酒 | yǐ chá dài jiǔ | to toast with tea instead of alcohol |
| 劝酒 | quàn jiǔ | to press someone to drink |
| 祝合作愉快 | zhù hé zuò yú kuài | here's to a successful partnership |
| 买单 | mǎi dān | to pay the bill |
Usage tips
- The seat of honour is typically the one facing the door, so wait to be shown where to sit rather than choosing a seat yourself.
- Whoever says 今天我做东 (jīn tiān wǒ zuò dōng) is paying, and splitting the bill at a business dinner is unusual, so thank them warmly and offer to host next time.
- 我先干为敬 (wǒ xiān gān wéi jìng), 'I'll drink first as a mark of respect', is typically said by a junior person toasting a senior, who may reply 随意 (suí yì) to let them drink at their own pace.
Common mistakes
- Jumping in with the first toast: let the host or most senior person 敬酒 (jìng jiǔ) first, then toast others individually.
- Reaching for the bill as a guest with 我来付钱; paying is the host's role, and the host's line is 我来买单 (wǒ lái mǎi dān), so offer to return the favour instead.
- Holding your glass level with or above a senior person's when you 碰杯 (pèng bēi); keep yours slightly lower as a sign of respect.
Mini dialogue
- A王总，您请上座。Wáng zǒng, nín qǐng shàng zuò.Mr Wang, please take the seat of honour.
- B太客气了。今天谁做东啊？Tài kè qi le. Jīn tiān shéi zuò dōng a?You're too kind. Who's hosting today?
- A当然是我们。来，我代表公司敬您一杯，我先干为敬！Dāng rán shì wǒ men. Lái, wǒ dài biǎo gōng sī jìng nín yī bēi, wǒ xiān gān wéi jìng!We are, of course. Here, on behalf of the company, a toast to you. I'll drink first as a mark of respect!
- B好，您随意。祝合作愉快！Hǎo, nín suí yì. Zhù hé zuò yú kuài!Thank you, no need to finish it. Here's to a successful partnership!
- A祝合作愉快，干杯！Zhù hé zuò yú kuài, gān bēi!To our partnership, cheers!
Example sentences
- 这次宴请客户花了不少钱。Wining and dining the client cost quite a bit this time.
- 我订了一个包间，十个人。I've booked a private room for ten.
- 王总，您请上座。Mr Wang, please take the seat of honour.
- 今天我做东，大家别客气。This one's on me today, so please don't hold back.
- 我代表公司给王总敬酒。On behalf of the company, I'd like to toast Mr Wang.
- 来，为我们的合作干杯！Come on, to our partnership, cheers!
- 感谢各位，我先干为敬！Thank you all, I'll down mine first as a mark of respect!
- 王总您随意，我干了！Mr Wang, drink as much as you like, I'll finish mine!
- 碰杯的时候杯子要放低一点。When you clink glasses, hold yours a little lower.
- 这瓶白酒有五十三度。This baijiu is 53 percent alcohol.
- 李总，您酒量真好！Mr Li, you can really hold your drink!
- 我开车，以茶代酒敬您。I'm driving, so I'll toast you with tea.
- 现在劝酒的人少多了。Far fewer people press you to drink these days.
- 祝合作愉快，我们干一杯！Here's to a happy partnership, let's drink to it!
- 今天我买单，谁也别跟我抢。It's on me today, nobody fight me for it.
Practise speaking
Ready to use these words? The Business dinners & toasts speaking island has 8 everyday questions about business dinners & toasts to prepare your own answers to.