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Short answer

“cheers” in Japanese is 乾杯（かんぱい）

How to say cheers in Japanese?

If you're wondering how to say cheers in Japanese, the standard toast is 乾杯 (kanpai). It literally means 'empty the cup' and is said right before everyone takes a drink. Use it when raising glasses at parties, dinners, celebrations, or business banquets. In casual messages, you may see it written in hiragana as かんぱい. Note that 'cheers' in British English can also mean 'thanks'; for that, use ありがとう (arigatou), not 乾杯.

expressionかんぱい Updated October 31, 2026

Common pairings

乾杯をする (kanpai o suru) — to make a toast乾杯と言う (kanpai to iu) — to say 'kanpai'乾杯の音頭を取る (kanpai no ondo o toru) — to lead the toastビールで乾杯する (bīru de kanpai suru) — to toast with beer

How to use it

  • 乾杯 is used at the moment everyone has a drink in hand. In Japan, people do not always clink glasses; the word itself is the signal to take a sip.
  • Write it as 乾杯 in formal settings, but in casual texts you'll often see かんぱい. The meaning and reading are the same. Use 乾杯 in writing, announcements, or business scenes.
  • If you are the one proposing the toast, say 乾杯しましょう. At formal banquets, someone may lead the toast with 乾杯の音頭を取らせていただきます.

Examples

乾杯！
Cheers!
Reading: かんぱい (kanpai). Say this as you raise your glass. This is the standard toast in Japan.
みんなで乾杯しましょう。
Let's all make a toast.
Reading: みんなでかんぱいしましょう (minna de kanpai shimashou). 乾杯する is the verb 'to toast'; しましょう means 'let's'.
彼が乾杯の音頭を取りました。
He led the toast.
Reading: かれがかんぱいのおんどをとりました (kare ga kanpai no ondo o torimashita). 乾杯の音頭 is the phrase for leading the toast ceremony.
ビールでかんぱいしよう！
Let's cheers with beer!
Reading: ビールでかんぱいしよう (bīru de kanpai shiyō). かんぱい in hiragana feels casual, like a text message.

Common mistakes

WrongCorrectWhy
乾杯を言いました。 乾杯をしました。 乾杯 is an action, not a quoted line. In Japanese you 'do' a toast (乾杯をする); if you really mean 'say the word kanpai', you would use 乾杯と言う with the quote particle と.
乾杯を言って、お礼を伝えた。 ありがとうと言って、お礼を伝えた。 British English 'cheers' can mean 'thanks', but Japanese 乾杯 is only for the pre-drink toast. Use ありがとう for thanks.
UnnaturalNaturalWhy
乾杯してください。 乾杯しましょう。 When proposing a toast, use volitional しましょう ('let's toast'). ください sounds like a request asking one person to do it, which is not how a group toast works.

FAQ

  1. How to say cheers in Japanese?
    The standard toast is 乾杯 (kanpai). It is an interjection everyone says while raising a glass before drinking. You can write it in hiragana as かんぱい in casual messages.
  2. Can I use 乾杯 to say thank you?
    No. In British English 'cheers' can mean thanks, but in Japanese 乾杯 is only for toasts before drinking. To thank someone, say ありがとう (arigatou).
  3. Do Japanese people clink glasses when they say 乾杯?
    Not always. A light clink is fine in casual settings, but at formal occasions people often raise their glasses slightly and bow instead of clinking. The important thing is to say 乾杯 together before taking a sip.