The Meaning of kanpai [乾杯] In Japanese

乾杯
かんぱい
Romaji: kanpai N5

What does 乾杯 mean?

Translation and Meaning

cheers, toast

Definition

乾杯 means ‘cheers’ or ‘to toast’ and is spoken when people raise their glasses to celebrate or wish someone well before drinking.

Type

Interjection (感嘆詞)

Stroke Order

Meanings

  • Used as a toast utterance before drinking at celebrations and meals.
  • Conveys goodwill and wishes for happiness, health, or success.
  • Appears in both formal ceremonies and casual gatherings, often accompanied by clinking of glasses.

Etymology

Loanword from Chinese gānbēi (干杯/幹杯); phonology shifted to Japanese on’yomi kan + pai, forming kanpai

Composition

  • 乾: dry, to dry or empty; 杯: cup or glass; together they imply draining the cup in a ritual toast

Usage

Used in both formal and casual drinking contexts to propose or respond to a toast; in ceremonies or business meals it may be delivered by a senior participant; commonly followed by clinking of glasses and drinking.
💡 Tips
Mnemonic: visualize a dry cup being raised and then emptied as you shout kanpai to toast your companions.

Variations

  • kanpai — standard romaji reading
  • カンパイ — katakana representation used in signs or casual speech
  • 乾杯 — kanji form used in writing; this is the standard form

Example Phrases

  • 友人と 居酒屋で 乾杯した 後、 会話が 盛り上がった。
    Yūjin to izakaya de kanpai shita ato, kaiwa ga moriagatta.
    After toasting at an izakaya with a friend, the conversation got lively.
    Lista:
    • 友人と (yūjin to) – with a friend
    • 居酒屋で (izakaya de) – at an izakaya
    • 乾杯した (kanpai shita) – toasted
    • 後 (ato) – after
    • 会話が (kaiwa ga) – conversation
    • 盛り上がった (moriagatta) – got lively
    「乾杯」 significa ‘cheers’ ou ‘to toast’; neste contexto funciona como um substantivo que se usa com する para formar o verbo 乾杯した.
乾杯