At a Party
intermediate参加聚会
Learn how to socialize, make toasts, play party games, and navigate Chinese drinking culture at gatherings and celebrations.
40 words12 phrases2 dialogues~25 min study time
Vocabulary
40 words — click any row for an example sentence
Toasts & Drinking
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 干杯 | gānbēi | cheers; to toast (lit. dry the glass) | verb |
| 敬酒 | jìngjiǔ | to propose a toast; to offer a drink respectfully | verb |
| 喝酒 | hē jiǔ | to drink alcohol | verb |
| 白酒 | báijiǔ | baijiu; Chinese grain liquor | noun |
| 啤酒 | píjiǔ | beer | noun |
| 红酒 | hóngjiǔ | red wine | noun |
| 醉了 | zuì le | drunk; intoxicated | adjective |
| 劝酒 | quànjiǔ | to urge someone to drink more | verb |
| 酒量 | jiǔliàng | alcohol tolerance; drinking capacity | noun |
| 随意 | suíyì | as you wish; drink as much as you like | adverb |
Party & Gathering
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 派对 | pàiduì | party (loanword) | noun |
| 聚会 | jùhuì | gathering; get-together; party | noun |
| 热闹 | rènao | lively; bustling; fun atmosphere | adjective |
| 请客 | qǐngkè | to treat someone (to a meal/drinks); to host | verb |
| 庆祝 | qìngzhù | to celebrate | verb |
| 邀请 | yāoqǐng | to invite; invitation | verb |
| 主人 | zhǔrén | host | noun |
| 客人 | kèrén | guest | noun |
Games & Activities
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 游戏 | yóuxì | game | noun |
| 猜拳 | cāiquán | rock-paper-scissors; finger-guessing game | verb |
| 唱歌 | chànggē | to sing | verb |
| KTV | kēitīwéi | karaoke bar; KTV | noun |
| 跳舞 | tiàowǔ | to dance | verb |
| 骰子 | tóuzi | dice | noun |
| 扑克牌 | pūkèpái | playing cards; poker | noun |
Small Talk & Social
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 气氛 | qìfēn | atmosphere; vibe | noun |
| 尽兴 | jìnxìng | to enjoy oneself to the fullest | verb |
| 开心 | kāixīn | happy; joyful | adjective |
| 聊天 | liáotiān | to chat | verb |
| 认识 | rènshi | to know (a person); to meet | verb |
| 拍照 | pāizhào | to take a photo | verb |
| 自拍 | zìpāi | selfie; to take a selfie | noun |
| 打车 | dǎchē | to hail a taxi; to call a cab | verb |
Food & Setting
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 零食 | língshí | snacks | noun |
| 饮料 | yǐnliào | beverage; drink | noun |
| 蛋糕 | dàngāo | cake | noun |
| 倒酒 | dào jiǔ | to pour a drink | verb |
| 碰杯 | pèngbēi | to clink glasses | verb |
| 以茶代酒 | yǐ chá dài jiǔ | to substitute tea for alcohol (polite refusal) | phrase |
| 宵夜 | xiāoyè | late-night snack | noun |
Key Phrases
Essential expressions
来来来，干杯！
Lái lái lái, gānbēi!
Come on, come on, cheers!
The most common way to initiate a toast at the table.
我敬你一杯！
Wǒ jìng nǐ yī bēi!
Let me toast you a glass!
Offering a respectful toast to a specific person, often an elder or boss.
我不太能喝酒。
Wǒ bú tài néng hē jiǔ.
I cannot really drink alcohol.
A polite way to decline alcohol without being too direct.
我干了，你随意。
Wǒ gān le, nǐ suíyì.
I will finish mine. You drink as you please.
A classic toast where the speaker shows sincerity by drinking fully while letting the other person drink at their own pace.
今天我请客，大家别客气！
Jīntiān wǒ qǐngkè, dàjiā bié kèqi!
It is my treat today. Everyone, do not be polite!
The host announcing they will pay for everything.
我们去唱歌吧！
Wǒmen qù chànggē ba!
Let us go sing karaoke!
A common suggestion after dinner to continue the party at KTV.
再来一轮！
Zài lái yī lún!
Another round!
Calling for another round of drinks or another round of a game.
你喝多了，别再喝了。
Nǐ hē duō le, bié zài hē le.
You have had too much. Stop drinking.
Looking out for a friend who is drinking too much.
气氛太好了！
Qìfēn tài hǎo le!
The atmosphere is amazing!
Complimenting the lively vibe at a party.
我以茶代酒，敬大家一杯。
Wǒ yǐ chá dài jiǔ, jìng dàjiā yī bēi.
I will toast everyone with tea in place of alcohol.
A polite way to participate in toasts if you do not drink alcohol.
玩得开心吗？
Wán de kāixīn ma?
Are you having a good time?
Checking in on friends at a party.
谢谢你的邀请，今天玩得很开心！
Xièxie nǐ de yāoqǐng, jīntiān wán de hěn kāixīn!
Thank you for the invitation. I had a great time today!
Thanking the host before leaving the party.
Dialogues
Practice conversations
Birthday Dinner Toasts
Xiao Wang is celebrating his birthday at a restaurant. His friends are making toasts and enjoying the festive dinner.
Speaker A
今天是小王的生日，大家举杯，一起祝小王生日快乐！干杯！
Speaker B
谢谢大家！来，我先敬大家一杯，感谢你们来参加我的生日聚会。
Speaker A
小王，你今年有什么生日愿望？
Speaker B
我希望工作顺利，也希望跟大家的友谊长长久久。来，再干一杯！
Speaker A
小李，你不喝酒吗？来一杯啤酒吧！
Speaker B
我今天开车来的，不能喝酒。我以茶代酒，祝小王生日快乐！
Speaker A
好！吃完饭我们去KTV唱歌吧！
Speaker B
好主意！今天一定要尽兴！
Cultural note: At Chinese birthday dinners, it is common for the birthday person to be the host and pay for the meal (请客). Toasts are made throughout the dinner, and the phrase 以茶代酒 (using tea to substitute for alcohol) is a widely accepted way for non-drinkers or drivers to participate in the toasting rituals without drinking alcohol.
Drinking Games After Dinner
A group of friends are playing drinking games at a hotpot restaurant. The atmosphere is lively and fun.
Speaker A
来来来，我们玩个游戏吧！输了的人要喝一杯。
Speaker B
玩什么？猜拳还是掷骰子？
Speaker A
猜拳吧，简单又好玩。剪刀石头布，来！
Speaker B
哈哈，你输了！快喝快喝！
Speaker A
好好好，我喝！不过你也别得意，下一轮你肯定输。
Speaker B
再来一轮！这次我们加大难度，输了的人喝两杯。
Speaker A
等一下，我已经喝不少了。我们换个不用喝酒的游戏吧。
Speaker B
好吧好吧。那我们打扑克牌吧，输了的人表演一个节目。
Cultural note: Drinking games are very popular at Chinese gatherings. The most common is 猜拳 (finger-guessing or rock-paper-scissors), where losers must drink. Chinese people also call this 划拳. While the games create a fun atmosphere, it is perfectly acceptable to switch to non-drinking activities once someone has had enough.
Cultural Notes
Context that textbooks miss
Test Yourself
8 questions covering vocabulary, phrases, and dialogue comprehension.
Take the At a Party Quiz (8 questions)→HSK Level Overlap
24 of 40 words appear in HSK levels
Further Reading
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