Knowing how to say greetings in Chinese and some important rules of Chinese drink etiquette are crucial to surviving an alcohol-laden encounter in China, whether for business, pleasure, or both. Fiery baijiu , the spirit of local choice, ranges from 40-60% alcohol by volume and often fuels businesses, banquets, and other social gatherings.
The ability to empty a glass without backing down is often strongly tied to the concept of saving face. Good-natured drinking competitions between adjacent tables sometimes appear after one party challenges another. You may find yourself in a cultural glove of strong shots, toasts, drinking games, and possibly even karaoke! Learn how to say hello in Chinese to greet new friends.
If you are attending a banquet with drinking sessions during or afterwards, learn a little about Chinese table manners before you go. Your performance during the food portion of the session will win over the crowd at the table.
How to say greetings in Chinese
The default toast in China is ganbei (sounds like: “gon bay”) which literally means “dry cup.” And unlike in the West, you are expected to empty your cup after every toast or, at the very least, do your best.
If you’re lucky enough to hear a weird banbei during the session, be relieved – you can only drink half your glass without holding back.
Some tips for communication in China will come in handy when the languages start to blur. These helpful Chinese phrases will be helpful in earning some smiles.
Is it okay not to drink?
If everyone else at the table is drinking, chances are you have tremendous pressure to participate, particularly in business settings. Unless you are a monk or pregnant, you are expected to make a concerted effort to match glass for glass with your hosts. An even more nightmare scenario involves pairing drink-for-drink with a company’s chosen drinking representatives. Yes, that’s one thing!
If you choose not to decline, you will need to make your intentions clear up front. The choice in many settings is pretty much all or nothing at all. Drinking sporadically , skipping a toast here and there , or drinking just a little is often socially unacceptable.
Although you may get a little scold for not being able to keep up, the good humor and laughter from the group come in handy when drinking in China. Use humor to your advantage; It can be your super power. The group will love that you can take a joke and laugh at yourself!
How to stop drinking in China
The Chinese often use little white lies on such occasions to save face; You can do the same. Some valid excuses you could give to avoid drinking altogether include health problems, a doctor’s instructions, medications, or even religious reasons, like your own manufactured version of Lent. Women are often exempt from drinking more easily than men, but they can participate as much as they want. Anyway, those who don’t drink will get a lot of kind jokes.
With plenty of attention as a laowai (foreigner) and others possibly filling your glass between toasts, don’t expect that you can just knock down shots in the middle of each ganbei . As the guest of honor, you’ll have smiling friends queuing up to refill your glass for you.
Beer, wine or baijiu?
A clever way to reduce the amount of intake is to choose to drink beer over the much stronger baijiu. Your hosts may not care what you’re drinking as long as you finish the glass with each ganbei . Just in case, try ordering a beer from the server (the way to say “beer” in Chinese is pijiu; it sounds like “pee-joo.”
Tsingtao is a popular beer in China, and it is quite light. Red wine is also sometimes an option, but you will have to get used to drinking it in gulps.
Chinese drinking games
Jovial drinking games often provide simple entertainment during binge drinking sessions. A popular favorite is a guessing game that causes people to yell numbers at each other and then be punished for wrong assumptions. No, the game is not just a random chance; It is a strategy. Don’t expect to win too often if you are learning for the first time!
Sometimes dice are used for Chinese games, but more often, all you need to play is your fingers and a little trick. The Chinese finger counting system, often used to convey prices and quantities, is a little different from ours.
Chinese drink label
- The most important consideration while drinking in formal settings is “giving face” to your hosts and others at the table. Never point out faults or mistakes, even if there is food stuck to someone’s face! Humility is an esteemed virtue; politely deflect compliments while offering lots to others
- The most veteran host at a banquet will offer the first toast – accidentally stealing this opportunity from them is very bad form. Stand up and raise your glass to make formal toast when others at the table do.
- Don’t drink alone; you must wait until a toast is given and then drink with the group.
- Refilling someone’s glass for them is a courteous gesture, and it will likely be reciprocal. If someone hasn’t volunteered yet, refill your glass immediately after one toast so you’re ready for the next one.
- Guests and hosts will be seated according to status and seniority. Offer your toast to the people on either side of you and then clink the glasses. After the initial round of toasts, people can move around the table to offer toast to each other.
- When toasting someone of your higher or higher rank, hold your glass slightly lower than yours to clink.
- Use your right hand to hold your glass when toasting and drinking. You can place your left hand under the glass to show more respect while someone toasts.
- If you need to hand something to someone for any reason, please do so with both hands. Use both hands to receive items.
- Tipping is not the norm in China! Your host will likely cover the check, so you don’t need to leave a tip or offer to ‘get in’.
Doing business while drinking
Many business relationships are forged in China with large amounts of alcohol. Unfortunately, your ability to handle drink for drink with the group can affect future business. Companies may even bring in younger professionals or experienced drinkers to serve as their chosen drinking representatives.
Although you may hint at or bring up business topics at the table, the drinking session is primarily to form a human bond to do business later, perhaps even at night karaoke. For obvious reasons, the drinking session is not the place to sign contracts or make critical decisions!
