What does 원샷 (wonsyat) mean?
- 원샷wonsyat
Bottoms up! / Down it in one
Casual: friends and people younger than you
원샷 (wonsyat) means "Bottoms up!", drinking your whole glass in one go. It comes from the English words "one shot", said with a Korean accent.
Where it comes from
It is Konglish, a Korean word made from English. The English phrase "one shot" was borrowed and given the meaning of downing a drink in one gulp.
How to use 원샷
People shout 원샷! at parties and drinking nights to encourage everyone to empty their glasses at the same time. It can be cheerful, but it can also put pressure on people.
Today, forcing someone to drink is widely seen as bad manners, and many people simply say they will sip. It is fine to reply 저는 천천히 마실게요 ("I'll drink slowly").
It is casual, but you will hear it at company dinners too. It can also be used for non-alcoholic drinks, like finishing a smoothie in one go.
Examples
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At a party, everyone raising glasses
Reassuring a new coworker
Shocked at a friend
Other ways to say it
| Korean | Meaning | When |
|---|---|---|
| 원샷! | Bottoms up! | The usual cheer. |
| 원샷하다 | To down a drink in one go | Verb form. |
| 원샷 때리다 | To slam a drink | Very casual slang version. |
Questions learners ask
Is wonsyat Korean or English?
It comes from the English "one shot", but it is used as a Korean word. English speakers say "bottoms up" or "chug" instead.
Do I have to wonsyat if someone says it?
No. You can sip or say 저는 천천히 마실게요 ("I'll drink slowly"). Pressuring people to drink is increasingly frowned upon.
How do you spell one shot in Korean?
It is written 원샷. The romanization wonsyat follows the official system, but most people search for "one shot".