The word kanpai is a Japanese expression used for toasting cups equivalent to "health" in English. Few know it, but this word has a long history and a much deeper meaning that we will examine in this article.
For some reason they write kampai (with M) in the Portuguese language... This is just a transliteration from Japanese to Portuguese, but I think it's ugly and I prefer a thousand times to write the original kanpai.
Kanpai is written [乾杯] where the character (乾) means dry or drink and the character (杯) means wine glass. Literally speaking it means emptying the glass, a very literal and appropriate expression to say when we are going to drink. This word can also be used as the verb to toast or drink a toast. In Chinese it is written with the same characters and is pronounced Gānbēi.
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Where and when to say kanpai?
In the old days kanpai was literally emptying the cup. That is, you would have to drink it all at once, but currently you don't have to worry too much about that.
Nowadays it is a mandatory etiquette for making a toast in Japan. If you start drinking before saying kampai, you are being rude. And it's not just used for sake, but any alcoholic beverage.
There are no secrets, it's the same as the word health or cheers in English. You often hear this word a lot at holiday events called bounenkai, where people gather.
This expression is also used in any gathering of friends where they are going to drink and especially if it is a lot. When doing the kanpai salute, make sure your glass is lower than the glass of a person who is superior to you, such as your boss at work.
We should show respect to elders and bosses in Japan. For this reason when you meet with your boss or someone of age, unless he speaks kanpai, you can use the formal expression otsukare-sama. This word does not have the same meaning as kampai, but it is used to appreciate the work they have done.
Beware of Kenpai
At funerals it is common to use the word kenpai (献杯) to toast the deceased with respect. When you're at a funeral and if you have drinking glasses, you can stand up and say kenpai without toasting other glasses.
So be careful not to speak kenpai instead of kanpai when drinking with friends. Another word that some may confuse because it has a similar pronunciation is the banzai.
What do you think of this expression? Have you had the opportunity to use it? We appreciate the comments and shares! We also recommend reading:
