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| 劝酒 [2025/08/11 08:46] – created xiaoer | 劝酒 [Unknown date] (current) – removed - external edit (Unknown date) 127.0.0.1 |
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| ====== quànjiǔ: 劝酒 - To Urge/Pressure Someone to Drink Alcohol ====== | |
| ===== Quick Summary ===== | |
| * **Keywords:** quànjiǔ, 劝酒, Chinese drinking culture, Chinese toast, urge to drink, pressure to drink in China, ganbei, business dinner China, Chinese banquet, social drinking China, baijiu culture | |
| * **Summary:** The term **劝酒 (quànjiǔ)** is a cornerstone of **Chinese drinking culture**, referring to the complex social act of urging, encouraging, or even pressuring someone to drink alcohol. Far more than a simple offer, `quànjiǔ` is a ritualized interaction common at any **Chinese banquet** or **business dinner**. Understanding this practice is crucial for navigating social and professional life in China, as it is deeply connected to showing respect, hospitality, and building relationships, though it can often feel like intense peer pressure to outsiders. | |
| ===== Core Meaning ===== | |
| * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** quàn jiǔ | |
| * **Part of Speech:** Verb-Object Compound (can function as a verb) | |
| * **HSK Level:** N/A (Advanced/Cultural) | |
| * **Concise Definition:** To actively encourage or pressure another person to drink an alcoholic beverage. | |
| * **In a Nutshell:** `劝酒` is the art of persuasion applied to drinking. It's not just "offering a drink"; it's a dynamic social action where one person tries to convince another to drink, often as a sign of goodwill, respect, or friendship. While it can be a friendly and warm gesture, it can also become a source of significant social pressure, making it difficult to refuse without careful navigation. | |
| ===== Character Breakdown ===== | |
| * **劝 (quàn):** This character means "to advise," "to urge," or "to persuade." It's composed of 又 (yòu, again) and 力 (lì, strength/effort), suggesting the act of repeatedly applying effort to persuade someone. | |
| * **酒 (jiǔ):** This character means "alcohol," "wine," or "liquor." The radical on the left, `氵` (shuǐ), indicates it is a liquid. The right side, 酉 (yǒu), is a pictograph of an ancient wine vessel. | |
| Combining them, **劝酒 (quànjiǔ)** literally means "to urge alcohol," perfectly capturing the essence of persuading someone to drink. | |
| ===== Cultural Context and Significance ===== | |
| `劝酒` is one of the most important aspects of **酒桌文化 (jiǔzhuō wénhuà)**, or "drinking table culture," in China. It's a social tool used to measure and build relationships. | |
| * **Building [[关系]] (guānxi):** In business and personal life, drinking together is a fast track to building trust and rapport. Successfully persuading someone to drink with you is seen as a sign of sincerity and can strengthen your bond. | |
| * **Showing Respect and Hospitality:** A host is expected to `劝酒` their guests to show generosity and warmth (**热情, rèqíng**). Subordinates or younger people `劝酒` their superiors or elders to show respect. This is often done via a specific, respectful toast, known as `[[敬酒]] (jìngjiǔ)`. | |
| * **The Concept of [[面子]] (miànzi) - "Face":** The act of `劝酒` is deeply tied to social face. If you `劝酒` someone and they refuse, you can "lose face" as your gesture of goodwill has been rejected. Conversely, the person refusing might worry about making the other person lose face, creating a cycle of pressure. | |
| **Comparison to Western Culture:** In the West, "peer pressure to drink" has an almost exclusively negative connotation, associated with immaturity or binge drinking. While `劝酒` can certainly become negative pressure, it originates from a cultural framework of hospitality and relationship-building. A Western "toast" is typically a collective, pre-planned gesture. `劝酒` is often a series of individual, spontaneous (though culturally scripted) challenges and invitations that occur throughout a meal. | |
| ===== Practical Usage in Modern China ===== | |
| `劝酒` is prevalent in any situation involving a shared meal and alcohol, but its intensity varies. | |
| * **Business Banquets:** This is where `劝酒` is most serious and strategic. Drinking capacity can be seen as a sign of sincerity and stamina. Refusing a drink from a potential client or partner can be perceived as a lack of commitment and could jeopardize a deal. | |
| * **Weddings and Family Gatherings:** The atmosphere is generally more celebratory. The newlyweds will toast every table, and guests are strongly encouraged to drink to celebrate the union. Family elders will `劝酒` younger members to show affection. | |
| * **Friends' Dinners:** Among friends, `劝酒` is usually more relaxed and fun, often involving drinking games. However, pressure can still exist depending on the group dynamic. | |
| * **Modern Trends:** There is a growing awareness, especially among younger, urban Chinese, of the health risks and anachronistic nature of forced drinking. It's becoming more acceptable to refuse by giving a valid reason (e.g., "I have to drive," "I'm on medication," or "My alcohol tolerance is very low"). | |
| ===== Example Sentences ===== | |
| * **Example 1:** | |
| * 别再**劝酒**了，他真的不能再喝了。 | |
| * Pinyin: Bié zài **quànjiǔ** le, tā zhēn de bùnéng zài hē le. | |
| * English: Stop pressuring him to drink, he really can't drink anymore. | |
| * Analysis: This sentence is used to defend someone from excessive `劝酒`. It shows the term can be used in a context of stopping the action. | |
| * **Example 2:** | |
| * 在中国，商务晚宴上互相**劝酒**是很常见的。 | |
| * Pinyin: Zài Zhōngguó, shāngwù wǎnyàn shàng hùxiāng **quànjiǔ** shì hěn chángjiàn de. | |
| * English: In China, it's very common to urge each other to drink at business dinners. | |
| * Analysis: A neutral, descriptive sentence explaining the cultural phenomenon. "互相" (hùxiāng) means "mutually," highlighting the reciprocal nature of the act. | |
| * **Example 3:** | |
| * 他很会**劝酒**，几句话就让大家都把杯子里的酒喝光了。 | |
| * Pinyin: Tā hěn huì **quànjiǔ**, jǐ jù huà jiù ràng dàjiā dōu bǎ bēizi lǐ de jiǔ hē guāng le. | |
| * English: He's very good at persuading people to drink; with just a few words, he got everyone to finish the wine in their glasses. | |
| * Analysis: This describes someone who is skilled at `劝酒`, treating it as a social talent. `喝光 (hē guāng)` means to drink until it's empty. | |
| * **Example 4:** | |
| * 我最讨厌那种没完没了的**劝酒**文化。 | |
| * Pinyin: Wǒ zuì tǎoyàn nà zhǒng méiwán méiliǎo de **quànjiǔ** wénhuà. | |
| * English: I hate that kind of endless "pressuring-to-drink" culture. | |
| * Analysis: This sentence clearly expresses a negative opinion about the practice, which is increasingly common among younger Chinese people. `没完没了 (méiwán méiliǎo)` is an idiom for "endless" or "interminable." | |
| * **Example 5:** | |
| * 领导来给你敬酒，你怎么也得喝一点，不然就是不给面子。他肯定会**劝酒**的。 | |
| * Pinyin: Lǐngdǎo lái gěi nǐ jìngjiǔ, nǐ zěnme yě děi hē yīdiǎn, bùrán jiùshì bù gěi miànzi. Tā kěndìng huì **quànjiǔ** de. | |
| * English: The boss is coming to toast you, you have to drink a little, otherwise you're not giving him face. He will definitely urge you to drink. | |
| * Analysis: This sentence perfectly illustrates the link between `敬酒` (toasting respectfully), `劝酒` (urging), and `面子` (face). It's a common piece of advice given to newcomers in a Chinese workplace. | |
| * **Example 6:** | |
| * A: 来，王总，我敬您一杯！ B: 不好意思，我开车来的。 A: 没关系，喝完我帮你叫代驾！来嘛！ | |
| * Pinyin: A: Lái, Wáng zǒng, wǒ jìng nín yībēi! B: Bù hǎoyìsi, wǒ kāichē lái de. A: Méiguānxì, hē wán wǒ bāng nǐ jiào dàijià! Lái ma! | |
| * English: A: Come on, Director Wang, let me toast you! B: Sorry, I drove here. A: No problem, I'll call a designated driver for you after you drink! Come on! | |
| * Analysis: This dialogue is a classic `劝酒` scenario. Person A starts with a respectful toast (`敬酒`) and, upon meeting resistance, immediately counters the excuse to continue persuading. This is `劝酒` in action. | |
| * **Example 7:** | |
| * 如果你不喝酒，最好一开始就说你酒精过敏，这样别人就不太好意思**劝酒**了。 | |
| * Pinyin: Rúguǒ nǐ bù hējiǔ, zuì hǎo yī kāishǐ jiù shuō nǐ jiǔjīng guòmǐn, zhèyàng biérén jiù bù tài hǎoyìsi **quànjiǔ** le. | |
| * English: If you don't drink, it's best to say you're allergic to alcohol right at the beginning, that way others will be too embarrassed to pressure you to drink. | |
| * Analysis: This offers a practical strategy for avoiding `劝酒`. An allergy is seen as a non-negotiable medical reason, making it one of the most effective excuses. | |
| * **Example 8:** | |
| * 他酒量不行，每次都得找个借口来躲避别人的**劝酒**。 | |
| * Pinyin: Tā jiǔliàng bùxíng, měi cì dōu děi zhǎo ge jièkǒu lái duǒbì biérén de **quànjiǔ**. | |
| * English: His alcohol tolerance is low, so every time he has to find an excuse to avoid being pressured to drink. | |
| * Analysis: This sentence uses the term `酒量 (jiǔliàng)` meaning "alcohol tolerance," a key concept in drinking culture. `躲避 (duǒbì)` means "to dodge" or "to avoid." | |
| * **Example 9:** | |
| * 在我们的家乡，主人**劝酒**是表示热情好客。 | |
| * Pinyin: Zài wǒmen de jiāxiāng, zhǔrén **quànjiǔ** shì biǎoshì rèqíng hàokè. | |
| * English: In our hometown, it's a sign of warm hospitality for the host to urge guests to drink. | |
| * Analysis: This sentence explains the positive cultural motivation behind `劝酒`: showing `热情好客 (rèqíng hàokè)`, a set phrase for "warm and hospitable." | |
| * **Example 10:** | |
| * 项目能不能谈成，就看今晚的**劝酒**本事了。 | |
| * Pinyin: Xiàngmù néng bùnéng tán chéng, jiù kàn jīnwǎn de **quànjiǔ** běnshì le. | |
| * English: Whether we can close this deal or not just depends on our "drink-persuading" skills tonight. | |
| * Analysis: A slightly humorous but realistic sentence showing how critical `劝酒` skills (`本事 běnshì` - skill/ability) can be in a business context. | |
| ===== Nuances and Common Mistakes ===== | |
| * **Not Just a "Toast":** A common mistake for learners is to equate `劝酒` with "toasting." A toast is specifically `[[敬酒]] (jìngjiǔ)`, which is an act of respect. `劝酒` is the broader, more forceful act of *persuading* someone to drink, which can happen after a toast if the person hesitates. You can `敬酒` your boss, but you `劝酒` your friend who is trying to get out of drinking. | |
| * **It's an Action Directed at Others:** You cannot `劝酒` yourself. It is inherently a social act involving at least two people. | |
| * **Incorrect:** 我今天很高兴，我**劝酒**自己多喝了几杯。(Wǒ jīntiān hěn gāoxìng, wǒ **quànjiǔ** zìjǐ duō hēle jǐ bēi.) | |
| * **Reason:** This is wrong because `劝酒` must be directed at someone else. You would simply say "I was so happy I had a few extra drinks myself" (我今天很高兴，就多喝了几杯). | |
| * **Refusal is an Art:** Simply saying "No, thanks" is often not enough and can be seen as cold. Refusing `劝酒` often requires a polite, elaborate excuse (driving, health, allergy) and a gesture of reciprocation, like offering to drink tea instead of alcohol (`以茶代酒, yǐ chá dài jiǔ`). | |
| ===== Related Terms and Concepts ===== | |
| * **[[干杯]] (gānbēi):** The literal meaning is "dry the cup." It's the Chinese equivalent of "Cheers!" or "Bottoms up!" and is the common command during `劝酒`. | |
| * **[[敬酒]] (jìngjiǔ):** To toast someone as a sign of respect. This is a more formal and polite subset of `劝酒`. You `敬酒` your elders and superiors. | |
| * **[[罚酒]] (fájiǔ):** A "penalty drink." Forcing someone to drink as a "punishment," often in a lighthearted way for being late to a dinner or losing a drinking game. | |
| * **[[酒桌文化]] (jiǔzhuō wénhuà):** The "drinking table culture." This is the entire ecosystem of etiquette, rituals, and social rules surrounding drinking in China, of which `劝酒` is a central pillar. | |
| * **[[关系]] (guānxi):** The crucial concept of a social network of connections and influence. `劝酒` and drinking together is a primary method for building and testing `关系`. | |
| * **[[面子]] (miànzi):** "Face," or social dignity and prestige. Giving and saving face for others is paramount at the dinner table, and both the act of `劝酒` and the reaction to it are governed by the rules of `面子`. | |
| * **[[挡酒]] (dǎngjiǔ):** To "block a drink" for someone. This is when a person (often a junior colleague or assistant) drinks on behalf of their superior who is being toasted, thus saving the superior from drinking too much. | |
| * **[[拼酒]] (pīnjiǔ):** To compete in drinking; to drink against each other to see who has a higher tolerance. This is an extreme and aggressive form of social drinking. | |