Business dinner and toasts in Chinese: phrases with pinyin
You are at a business dinner (饭局) in Beijing with your team and a client. Your manager introduces you. The host is friendly and speaks slowly. You will greet people, say a few polite words, and make a simple toast. People use small glasses of baijiu or tea, and the host may pour for you.
How the conversation starts
张总 (Mr. Zhang) · host and client manager
Join a business dinner and make a simple toast
What you do
- Greet the host and say your name
- Say you are happy to meet them
- Make a simple toast
What to say
- 你好，我叫___。Nǐ hǎo, wǒ jiào ___.Hello, my name is ___.
- 很高兴认识您。Hěn gāoxìng rènshi nín.Nice to meet you.
- 我敬您一杯。Wǒ jìng nín yì bēi.I'd like to toast you.
- 干杯！Gānbēi!Cheers!
Toast at a business dinner
You're at a business dinner in a private room of a restaurant in Shanghai with your Chinese client and colleagues. The host, Mr. Zhang, has just welcomed everyone and raised his glass for the first toast. You want to respond politely and make a good impression.
What you do
- Accept the toast and thank the host
- Say you don't drink alcohol and ask for tea instead
- Propose a toast to everyone
What to say
- 谢谢张总，我敬您。Xièxie Zhāng zǒng, wǒ jìng nín.Thank you, Mr. Zhang. I'll toast you.
3 more sentences in this lesson, in the app.
Business dinner: decline baijiu, give a toast
You're at a business dinner in a private room in Shanghai, hosted by your client Mr. Zhang. You're allergic to alcohol, so you'll toast with tea (以茶代酒). In China a host may press guests to drink (劝酒), and a guest is often asked to say a few words: thank the host and wish the partnership well.
What you do
- Thank Mr. Zhang for the dinner and the welcome
- He presses you to drink baijiu: decline politely and toast with tea
- He asks you to say a few words: give a short toast to the partnership
What to say
- 谢谢张总的盛情款待！Xièxie Zhāng zǒng de shèngqíng kuǎndài!Thank you, Mr. Zhang, for your warm hospitality!
4 more sentences in this lesson, in the app.
Now say it out loud
In Kaiko, 张总 (Mr. Zhang) answers you out loud in Chinese, and a coach corrects you as you go.