What does 건배 (geonbae) mean?
- 건배geonbae
Cheers!
Fine in most situations
건배 (geonbae) means "Cheers!" in Korean. People say it while raising and clinking their glasses before a drink.
Where it comes from
It comes from Chinese characters meaning "dry the cup". It is the same word as Chinese ganbei and Japanese kanpai.
How to use 건배
Say 건배! together as glasses touch. At a group dinner, one person often leads with a short toast called 건배사, and everyone shouts back. A common call and response is "위하여!" ("To...!").
When toasting with someone older or senior, hold your glass a little lower than theirs as it clinks, and use two hands. This small gesture shows respect.
건배 is fine in any setting, from a family dinner to a company party. It does not mean you must finish your drink; that is 원샷.
Examples
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Raising glasses with friends
Suggesting a toast at dinner
Toasting a close friend
Other ways to say it
| Korean | Meaning | When |
|---|---|---|
| 건배! | Cheers! | The basic toast. |
| 건배하다 | To make a toast | Verb form, as in 건배할까요? ("Shall we toast?"). |
| 건배사 | A toast speech | The short speech before everyone says cheers. |
| 위하여! | To...! | Common shout during group toasts. |
Questions learners ask
How do you say cheers in Korean?
Say 건배 (geonbae). In a group, people sometimes also shout 위하여 ("To...!") after a short toast.
Is gunbae the same as geonbae?
Yes. Gunbae is just another way of spelling 건배 in English letters.
Is there etiquette for clinking glasses in Korea?
With someone older or senior, hold your glass slightly lower than theirs when you clink, and hold it with two hands.