Phrases for drinking with friends

Raise your glass, say 건배 (geonbae), and clink glasses together. The word literally means 'empty the cup,' but in practice it simply means 'Cheers!' Toasting with a soft drink is completely fine. When clinking with someone older or senior, it is polite to hold your glass slightly lower than theirs.

짠 (jjan) imitates the clinking sound of glasses and is a casual way to say 'Cheers!' 우리 짠 하자 (uri jjan haja) means 'Let's toast.' It feels lighter and friendlier than 건배 (geonbae), so it suits close friends. At formal work dinners, 건배 is usually the better choice.

원샷 (wonsyat), from 'one shot,' means finishing your drink in one go. People shout it to liven up the mood, but you don't have to follow. Pressuring others to drink is increasingly frowned upon, so you can say 저는 천천히 마실게요 (jeoneun cheoncheonhi masilgeyo), 'I'll drink slowly.' Always drink at your own pace.

위하여 (wihayeo) means 'To…!' and is a classic toast. One person leads with something like 우리의 건강을 위하여! (uriui geongangeul wihayeo!), 'To our health!', and everyone answers 위하여! together. You will hear it often at company dinners and group gatherings. Just raise your glass along with everyone.

Ask 한 잔 더 하실래요? (han jan deo hasillaeyo?), 'Would you like another drink?' With friends, say 한 잔 더 할래? (han jan deo hallae?). If you are offered one and want to stop, smile and say 저는 괜찮아요 (jeoneun gwaenchanayo), 'I'm fine, thanks.' Good manners mean never pushing someone to drink.

Say 저는 술을 못 마셔요 (jeoneun sureul mot masyeoyo), 'I can't drink alcohol.' You don't need to explain your reasons, whether health, religion or preference. Adding 음료수로 할게요 (eumnyosuro halgeyo), 'I'll have a soft drink,' lets you join the toasts naturally. Most people will understand, and pressure to drink is declining.

Say 한 잔 따라 드릴게요 (han jan ttara deurilgeyo), 'Let me pour you a drink,' and hold the bottle with both hands. In Korea, people usually pour for each other rather than for themselves. Noticing when someone's glass is empty is considered thoughtful. The person receiving should hold their glass with both hands too.

Hold your glass with both hands and say 감사합니다 (gamsahamnida), 'Thank you.' When you drink, it is traditional to turn your head slightly to the side, away from the elder. Many groups are more relaxed now, but following this with older people you've just met leaves a good impression. Offering to pour for them afterward is also polite.

안주 (anju) means food eaten with alcohol. In Korea, people usually order dishes to share with their drinks rather than drinking alone on an empty stomach. When ordering, someone might ask 안주 뭐 시킬까요? (anju mwo sikilkkayo?), 'What should we order to eat?' Eating while drinking is also easier on your body.

Say 취했어요 (chwihaesseoyo), 'I'm drunk,' or 좀 취한 것 같아요 (jom chwihan geot gatayo), 'I think I'm a little tipsy.' It is a natural way to decline more drinks. If you feel unwell, stop and tell your group. If someone seems seriously ill, seek medical help or call 119.

2차 (icha), 'second round,' means moving to a second place after the first meal or drinks. The first place is 1차 (ilcha), the next 3차 (samcha). The second round might be a karaoke room or a cafe. If you're tired, it's fine to say 저는 1차까지만 할게요 (jeoneun ilchakkajiman halgeyo), 'I'll stay for just the first round.'

Say 한잔해요 (hanjanhaeyo), 'Let's have a drink,' or 언제 한잔해요 (eonje hanjanhaeyo), 'Let's grab a drink sometime.' 한잔 doesn't mean exactly one glass; it just means a casual drink. 언제 한잔해요 is sometimes a polite pleasantry rather than a real plan, so suggest a date if you actually want to meet.

해장 (haejang) means eating something to soothe your stomach after a night of drinking. Hot soups are popular for this, which is why 해장국 (haejangguk), 'hangover soup,' is a common term. People say 해장하러 가자 (haejanghareo gaja), 'Let's go get hangover food.' If you feel really unwell, rest and water come first.

Say 적당히 마셔요 (jeokdanghi masyeoyo), 'Let's drink in moderation,' or 오늘은 가볍게 마셔요 (oneureun gabyeopge masyeoyo), 'Let's keep it light tonight.' It shows care when a friend is drinking a lot. If you have plans tomorrow, add 내일 일찍 일어나야 해서요 (naeil iljjik ireonaya haeseoyo), 'I have to get up early.'

소맥 (somaek) is a mix of soju and beer. The name combines 소 (so) from 소주 (soju) and 맥 (maek) from 맥주 (maekju, 'beer'). Everyone has their own preferred ratio. It can be stronger than it tastes, so drink slowly, and feel free to choose plain beer or a soft drink instead.

A 건배사 (geonbaesa) is a short speech given before a toast. At company dinners, one person stands, says a few words about the occasion, and leads the toast. Foreign guests are sometimes asked unexpectedly, so prepare a simple line like 오늘 함께해서 기쁩니다, 건배! (oneul hamkkehaeseo gippeumnida, geonbae!), 'I'm glad to be here today, cheers!' Shorter is better.

Say 잔이 비었네요 (jani bieonneyo), 'Your glass is empty,' and offer to pour. In Korea, filling someone's empty glass is considered considerate. If you don't want more, leave a little in your glass so people won't keep refilling it. You can also gently cover your glass with your hand to decline.

Say 저는 음료수로 할게요 (jeoneun eumnyosuro halgeyo), 'I'll have a soft drink.' Toasting with soda or water shows the same goodwill. If you're driving, 운전해야 해서요 (unjeonhaeya haeseoyo), 'I have to drive,' is instantly understood. Korea punishes drunk driving strictly, so never drive after drinking.

Say 먼저 일어나 볼게요 (meonjeo ireona bolgeyo), 'I'll be heading off first,' or 저는 이만 가 볼게요 (jeoneun iman ga bolgeyo). A short reason like 내일 일찍 나가야 해서요 (naeil iljjik nagaya haeseoyo), 'I have to leave early tomorrow,' sounds natural. On the way out, say 즐거웠어요 (jeulgeowosseoyo), 'I had fun,' and check how the bill is being split.

술버릇 (sulbeoreut) means the habits someone shows when drunk, from bursting into song or falling asleep to more embarrassing behavior. People often ask 술버릇이 어때요? (sulbeoreusi eottaeyo?), 'What are you like when you're drunk?' as a joke. If your drinking habits bother others, it's a good sign to drink less.