jìngjiǔ: 敬酒 - To Propose a Toast, To Toast

• Keywords: 敬酒, jingjiu, propose a toast in Chinese, Chinese toasting etiquette, Chinese drinking culture, toast someone in Chinese, Chinese business dinner, Chinese wedding toast, Chinese banquet etiquette, ganbei, baijiu
• Summary: 敬酒 (jìngjiǔ) is the essential Chinese cultural practice of proposing a toast to show respect, build relationships, and celebrate. Far more than a simple “cheers,” it is a structured social ritual fundamental to Chinese drinking culture, especially at a business dinner, wedding, or formal banquet. Understanding the etiquette of 敬酒—who toasts whom, what to say, and how to hold your glass—is crucial for anyone looking to navigate social and professional situations in China successfully.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): jìngjiǔ
• Part of Speech: Verb
• HSK Level: HSK 5
• Concise Definition: To formally propose a toast to someone as a sign of respect.
• In a Nutshell: 敬酒 (jìngjiǔ) is the act of “offering alcohol” to honor someone. It's a core component of social etiquette in China. Unlike a casual Western “cheers,” 敬酒 is often a hierarchical and intentional act. A person of lower status (e.g., a junior employee, a host) will toast a person of higher status (e.g., a boss, a guest of honor) to express respect, gratitude, or a wish for good fortune. The gesture itself is as important as the drink.

• 敬 (jìng): This character means “to respect,” “to honor,” or “to offer politely.” It conveys a sense of seriousness and reverence. Think of it as the politeness you'd show to an elder or a distinguished guest.
• 酒 (jiǔ): This character simply means “alcohol,” “wine,” or “liquor.” The 氵(water) radical on the left indicates it's a liquid, and the right part, 酉, is an ancient pictograph of a wine jar.
• Together, 敬酒 (jìngjiǔ) literally translates to “to respectfully offer alcohol.” This perfectly captures the meaning: it's not just about drinking, but about the respectful and honorific offering of a drink.

• The Ritual of Relationship Building: In China, many important relationships (关系, guānxi) are built not in the boardroom, but around the dinner table. 敬酒 is the primary vehicle for this. It's how you show respect, break the ice, and demonstrate sincerity. A successful banquet filled with respectful toasting can solidify a business deal more effectively than a formal presentation.
• Comparison to a Western “Toast”: While both involve raising a glass, the cultural weight is different.
  • Western Toast: Often a single, collective event. Someone gets everyone's attention, says a few words for the whole group (e.g., “To the happy couple!”), everyone clinks glasses or raises them, and drinks. It's generally egalitarian.
  • Chinese 敬酒: A series of individual or small-group interactions. It follows a strict hierarchy. The host toasts the guest of honor, then juniors toast seniors. It is often done one-on-one, with the toaster approaching the toastee's seat. It's a continuous, flowing part of the meal, not a single event.
• Related Cultural Values:
  • Hierarchy and Respect (尊敬, zūnjìng): The order of toasting reinforces the social structure. Toasting a superior first is a non-negotiable sign of respect.
  • Face (面子, miànzi): Proposing a toast gives “face” to the person being honored. Accepting the toast graciously also gives “face” to the proposer. Refusing a toast can cause a major loss of face for both parties and is considered very rude.
  • Hospitality and Harmony (热情, rèqíng): For a host, continuously toasting guests is a way of showing warmth and ensuring everyone feels included and honored, contributing to a harmonious atmosphere.

敬酒 is a living tradition, essential in many formal and semi-formal settings.

• Business Dinners (商务宴请, shāngwù yànqǐng): This is where 敬酒 is most critical and strategic.
  • The host (or person of lower rank) will always initiate the toasts.
  • You typically toast the most important person at the table first.
  • When toasting a client or superior, you should stand up, hold your glass with two hands (one hand holding the glass, the other supporting the bottom), and say a few words of gratitude or a wish for successful cooperation.
  • When you clink glasses, your rim should be lower than the other person's to show humility.
• Weddings and Family Banquets (婚宴, hūnyàn):
  • The newlywed couple, often accompanied by their parents, will go from table to table to 敬酒 every single guest. This is their way of thanking the guests for attending. Guests are expected to stand up when the couple arrives at their table.
• Key Phrases to Use When Toasting:
  • To a boss/client: “王总，我敬您一杯，感谢您一直以来的支持。” (Wáng zǒng, wǒ jìng nín yī bēi, gǎnxiè nín yīzhí yǐlái de zhīchí.) - “Director Wang, I'd like to toast you, thank you for your constant support.”
  • To a friend/for health: “来，我们喝一杯，祝大家身体健康！” (Lái, wǒmen hē yī bēi, zhù dàjiā shēntǐ jiànkāng!) - “Come, let's have a drink, wishing everyone good health!”
  • A simple, all-purpose toast: “我敬您一杯！” (Wǒ jìng nín yī bēi!) - “I toast you!”

• Example 1:
  • 在中国的商务晚宴上，向下属敬酒是不常见的，通常是下属向上级敬酒。
  • Pinyin: Zài Zhōngguó de shāngwù wǎnyàn shàng, xiàng xiàshǔ jìngjiǔ shì bù chángjiàn de, tōngcháng shì xiàshǔ xiàng shàngjí jìngjiǔ.
  • English: At business dinners in China, it's uncommon for a superior to toast a subordinate; it's usually the subordinate who toasts the superior.
  • Analysis: This sentence clearly explains the hierarchical nature of 敬酒 in a professional context.
• Example 2:
  • 新郎新娘需要给每一桌的客人敬酒，以表示感谢。
  • Pinyin: Xīnláng xīnniáng xūyào gěi měi yī zhuō de kèrén jìngjiǔ, yǐ biǎoshì gǎnxiè.
  • English: The bride and groom need to go to every table to toast the guests to express their gratitude.
  • Analysis: This illustrates the most common use of 敬酒 at a Chinese wedding.
• Example 3:
  • 李经理站起来说：“我先敬大家一杯，欢迎各位的到来！”
  • Pinyin: Lǐ jīnglǐ zhàn qǐlái shuō: “Wǒ xiān jìng dàjiā yī bēi, huānyíng gèwèi de dàolái!”
  • English: Manager Li stood up and said: “Let me first toast everyone and welcome you all!”
  • Analysis: Here, 敬 (jìng) is used as the verb within the toast. This is a typical opening toast by a host at a banquet.
• Example 4:
  • 他因为要开车，所以用茶代替酒向老板敬酒。
  • Pinyin: Tā yīnwèi yào kāichē, suǒyǐ yòng chá dàitì jiǔ xiàng lǎobǎn jìngjiǔ.
  • English: Because he had to drive, he used tea instead of alcohol to toast his boss.
  • Analysis: This shows a common and acceptable way to participate in the ritual without drinking alcohol. The act of 敬酒 is what matters most.
• Example 5:
  • 晚宴开始了，大家开始互相敬酒，气氛非常热闹。
  • Pinyin: Wǎnyàn kāishǐ le, dàjiā kāishǐ hùxiāng jìngjiǔ, qìfēn fēicháng rènào.
  • English: The banquet began, and everyone started toasting each other; the atmosphere was very lively.
  • Analysis: The term 互相 (hùxiāng) means “mutually” or “each other,” showing that toasting is a reciprocal and interactive process.
• Example 6:
  • 小王，你应该去给客户敬一杯酒，这是礼貌。
  • Pinyin: Xiǎo Wáng, nǐ yīnggāi qù gěi kèhù jìng yī bēi jiǔ, zhè shì lǐmào.
  • English: Xiao Wang, you should go toast the client. It's a matter of courtesy.
  • Analysis: This highlights that 敬酒 isn't just optional fun; it's an expected part of social and professional etiquette (礼貌, lǐmào).
• Example 7:
  • 收到别人给你敬酒时，你应该站起来表示尊重。
  • Pinyin: Shōudào biérén gěi nǐ jìngjiǔ shí, nǐ yīnggāi zhàn qǐlái biǎoshì zūnzhòng.
  • English: When someone proposes a toast to you, you should stand up to show respect.
  • Analysis: This provides a key piece of practical advice on the etiquette of receiving a toast.
• Example 8:
  • 我不太会喝酒，但还是向他敬酒以示诚意。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ bù tài huì hējiǔ, dàn háishì xiàng tā jìngjiǔ yǐ shì chéngyì.
  • English: I'm not much of a drinker, but I still toasted him to show my sincerity.
  • Analysis: This sentence emphasizes that the purpose of 敬酒 is often to show sincerity (诚意, chéngyì), regardless of one's capacity for alcohol.
• Example 9:
  • 为了庆祝合作成功，我们互相敬酒，大家都喝得很开心。
  • Pinyin: Wèile qìngzhù hézuò chénggōng, wǒmen hùxiāng jìngjiǔ, dàjiā dōu hē de hěn kāixīn.
  • English: To celebrate the successful cooperation, we toasted each other and everyone drank happily.
  • Analysis: This connects the act of 敬酒 to a specific positive outcome—celebrating a success.
• Example 10:
  • 他轮流向桌上的长辈们敬酒。
  • Pinyin: Tā lúnliú xiàng zhuō shàng de zhǎngbèimen jìngjiǔ.
  • English: He took turns toasting the elders at the table.
  • Analysis: The word 轮流 (lúnliú) means “to take turns,” perfectly describing the process of systematically toasting multiple people in order of seniority.

• 敬酒 (jìngjiǔ) vs. 干杯 (gānbēi): This is the most common point of confusion.
  • 敬酒 is the entire formal process: standing up, approaching someone, saying respectful words, and offering the drink. It's the action of proposing a toast.
  • 干杯 (gānbēi) is the exclamation used at the moment of drinking, meaning “Cheers!” or more literally, “Dry the glass!” You can 敬酒 and then conclude by saying 干杯. Not every toast requires a 干杯 (you can just sip), but 干杯 is almost always preceded by a form of 敬酒.
• Refusing a Toast: Directly refusing a toast is a major social blunder and can cause the proposer to lose 面子 (miànzi).
  • Incorrect: “不，我不想喝。” (Bù, wǒ bùxiǎng hē.) - “No, I don't want to drink.” (This is extremely rude).
  • Correct: If you cannot drink, immediately explain why with a polite reason (e.g., “不好意思，我等下要开车” - “Sorry, I have to drive later,” or “我对酒精过敏” - “I'm allergic to alcohol”). Then, raise a glass of tea, water, or juice and say, “我用茶代酒敬您一杯!” (Wǒ yòng chá dài jiǔ jìng nín yī bēi!) - “I'll use tea in place of alcohol to toast you!” The ritual is more important than the liquid.
• Forgetting the “Lower Glass” Rule: When clinking glasses with a superior, elder, or guest of honor, always ensure the rim of your glass is noticeably lower than theirs. This is a non-verbal gesture of humility and respect. Forgetting this can be seen as arrogant.

• 干杯 (gānbēi) - “Dry the glass”; the common exclamation for “Cheers!”, often implying you should finish your drink.
• 劝酒 (quànjiǔ) - To urge or pressure someone to drink more alcohol. Can be friendly but can also become aggressive.
• 回敬 (huíjìng) - To return a toast. After a superior toasts you, it is polite to later approach them and 回敬 them.
• 酒桌文化 (jiǔzhuō wénhuà) - The overarching “drinking table culture” which includes all the rules and rituals of banquets, with 敬酒 as its centerpiece.
• 面子 (miànzi) - “Face”; social prestige and honor. The entire ritual of toasting is deeply intertwined with giving and receiving face.
• 关系 (guānxi) - Social networks and connections. 敬酒 is a primary method for building and maintaining good 关系.
• 白酒 (báijiǔ) - The strong, clear grain liquor that is the traditional choice for formal toasting in China.
• 罚酒 (fájiǔ) - “Penalty drink”; a drink someone is required to have as a “punishment” for being late or losing a drinking game.
• 吉祥话 (jíxiánghuà) - Auspicious or propitious words; the short, positive phrases you say when proposing a toast (e.g., wishing health, success, or happiness).