# 1 🍻 敬酒 How to give a toast in China
My reverse culture shock when visiting home after many years
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🍻 敬酒 jìng jiǔ
shàng gè yuè wǒ huí zhōngguó tànqīn,
上个月我回中国探亲，sān zhōu de shíjiān lǐ wǒ jiànle hěnduō qīnqi.
三周的时间里我见了很多亲戚。yǒuxiē zhǎngbèi hái qǐng wǒ chīfàn,
有些长辈还请我吃饭，rèqíng yíngjiē wǒ huílái.
热情迎接我回来。yǒu de shíhòu wǒmen huì hē yìdiǎn jiǔ.
有的时候我们会喝一点酒。dàn wǒ fāxiàn wǒ yǐjīng bùzhīdào rúhé jìngjiǔ le.
但我发现我已经不知道如何敬酒了。yīnwèi hǎoduō nián méiyǒu huíguó
因为好多年没有回国，wǒ yǐjīng wàngjìle zěnme jìngjiǔ.
我已经忘记了怎么敬酒。wǒ bù quèdìng shénme shíhòu jìngjiǔ, gāi xiān jìng shéi
我不确定什么时候敬酒，该先敬谁，jìngjiǔ de shíhòu gāi shuō shénme.
敬酒的时候该说什么。zài fànzhuō shàng, wǒ yǒudiǎn bù zhī suǒ cuò
在饭桌上，我有点不知所措bù zhīdào gāi zěnme bàn cái hǎo.
不知道该怎么办才好。yúshì wǒ jiù jìng jìng guānchá qítā rén shì rúhé jìngjiǔ de
于是我就静静观察其他人是如何敬酒的，tóngshí hé wǒ bàba qǐngjiào.
同时和我爸爸请教。shǒuxiān shi shénme shíhòu jìngjiǔ
首先是什么时候敬酒。jìngjiǔ bù yīng gāi yǐngxiǎng dàjiā chīfàn
敬酒不应该影响大家吃饭。yǒu shíhòu wǒ gāng yào bǎ bēizi jǔ qǐlái
有时候我刚要把杯子举起来，fāxiàn duìfāng zài jiā cài, huòzhě dītóu chīfàn.
发现对方在夹菜，或者低头吃饭。nà wǒ zhǐhǎo děng yìhuǐr.
那我只好等一会儿。yǒu shíhòu dàjiā zài tǎolùn yígè hěn zhòngyào de huàtí,
有时候大家在讨论一个很重要的话题，nà wǒ yě zhǐ néng děngzhe, bù hǎo dǎrǎo.
那我也只能等着，不好打扰。wǒ děi bù tíng de kànzhe zhōuwéi rén zài zuò shénme,
我得不停地看着周围人在做什么，ránhòu pànduàn chū hǎo de shíjī qù jìngjiǔ.
然后判断出好的时机去敬酒。zàishuō shuō gāi xiān jìng shéi.
再说说该先敬谁。jìngjiǔ de shùnxù hěn yǒu jiǎngjiu.
敬酒的顺序很有讲究。tōngcháng huì xiān jìng nián zhǎng de rén huò shì dìwèi zuìgāo de rén.
通常会先敬年长的人或是地位最高的人。hé qīnqi chīfàn de shíhòu,
和亲戚吃饭的时候，wǒ xūyào xiān jìng zuì nián zhǎng de qīnqi, ránhòu zài jìng xià yígè.
我需要先敬最年长的亲戚，然后再敬下一个。rúguǒ shì zài shāngwù chǎnghé,
如果是在商务场合，dàjiā doūhuì xiān jìng zhíwèi zuìgāo de rén.
大家都会先敬职位最高的人。jìngjiǔ de shíhòu tōngcháng huì shuō xiē zhùfú huò shì gǎnxiè de huà.
敬酒的时候通常会说些祝福或是感谢的话。duì zhǎngbèi wǒ huì shuō “zhù nín shēntǐ jiànkāng”,
对长辈我会说“祝您身体健康”，duì qǐngkè de rén, wǒ huì shuō “xièxiè”
对请客的人，我会说“谢谢”wǒmen huì yìqǐ jǔ qǐ jiǔbēi,
我们会一起举起酒杯，pèngbēi de shíhòu huì shuō “gānbēi”
碰杯的时候会说“干杯”，“gānbēi” xiāngdāng yú yīngwén lǐ de ”cheers“.
“干杯”相当于英文里的”cheers“。jīngguòle jǐ cì jùhuì,
经过了几次聚会，wǒ jiànjiàn xíguànle jìngjiǔ.
我渐渐习惯了敬酒。dànshì shuō shíhuà, wǒ bù xǐhuān jìngjiǔ.
但是说实话，我不喜欢敬酒。wǒ gèng xǐhuān qīngsōng de liáotiān,
我更喜欢轻松的聊天，méiyǒu rènhé yālì.
没有任何压力。Last month I went back to China to visit relatives.
During the three weeks, I met many relatives.
Some elders even invited me to dinner
and warmly welcomed me back.
Sometimes we drink a little alcohol.
But I found that I no longer know how to toast.
Because I haven't been home for many years,
I have forgotten how to toast.
I'm not sure when to toast, who to toast to first,
what to say when toasting.
At the dinner table, I was a bit overwhelmed
and didn't know what to do.
So I quietly observed how other people toasted,
At the same time, I asked my dad for advice.
First of all, when to toast.
A toast should not affect everyone's eating.
Sometimes I'm just about to lift the glass,
I found that the other party was picking up food, or lowering their heads to eat.
Then I have to wait a while.
Sometimes everyone is discussing a very important topic,
Then I can only wait, not good to disturb.
I have to keep watching what people around me are doing,
Then judge the good time to toast.
Let's talk about who to respect first.
The order of toasting is very particular.
Usually, the older person or the person with the highest status is honored first.
When eating with relatives,
I need to toast to my oldest relative first and then the next one.
If it is in a business setting,
everyone respects the person with the highest position first.
When toasting, we usually say some words of blessing or thanks.
To elders I would say "I wish you good health",
To the person who treats me, I would say "thank you"
We'll raise our glasses together,
Say "干杯" when clinking glasses,
"干杯" is equivalent to "cheers" in English.
After several gatherings,
I gradually got used to toasting.
But to be honest, I don't like toasting.
I prefer a casual chat.
There’s no pressure.
🎬 资源
Read more about how to give a toast in China
A popular Chinese drama with English subtitles: 去有风的日子
A great video guide on how to learn Chinese (resources, methods and study Plans)
In case you missed - how to use AI to practice speaking Chinese.