Chinese Toasts and Good-Luck Blessings: Say 干杯 and 祝你好运 Naturally
Learn beginner Mandarin phrases for short toasts and good-luck wishes, including 干杯, 祝你成功, and 祝你好运, with register tips and a natural dialogue.
By LiamCulture & nuance · Yapr Learn
At a Chinese dinner or celebration, a short toast can warm the table. The most common toast is 干杯 (gān bēi), literally 'dry cup', but it does not always mean you must finish the drink. For good luck, the direct phrase is 祝你好运 (zhù nǐ hǎo yùn). This lesson teaches reusable patterns for quick toasts and blessings, shows how to respond, and keeps the focus on short spoken exchanges rather than formal speeches.
By the end, you can…
- propose a short toast and respond to one at a celebration.
- wish someone good luck and congratulate them using 祝 patterns.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
干杯！
Cheers! / Bottoms up!
gān bēi
The standard short toast. Say it while raising your glass. It can mean 'cheers' or 'drink up', depending on tone and context.
祝你好运！
Good luck to you!
zhù nǐ hǎo yùn
A direct good-luck blessing. Use it before an exam, interview, trip, or new venture. 祝 (zhù) means 'wish'.
祝你成功！
I wish you success!
zhù nǐ chéng gōng
A slightly more formal good-luck wish for a project, competition, or important goal.
为我们的友谊干杯！
Here's to our friendship!
wèi wǒ men de yǒu yì gān bēi
A short 'here's to...' toast. 为 (wèi) means 'for' or 'to' and introduces the thing you are toasting.
谢谢，也祝你一切顺利！
Thank you, and I wish you all the best too!
xiè xie, yě zhù nǐ yí qiè shùn lì
A warm response to a good-luck wish. 一切顺利 (yí qiè shùn lì) means 'may everything go smoothly'.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The pattern 祝 + person + blessing is the core of good-luck wishes. 祝 (zhù) means 'wish'. For example, 祝你好运 (zhù nǐ hǎo yùn) = wish you good luck; 祝你成功 (zhù nǐ chéng gōng) = wish you success; 祝你生日快乐 (zhù nǐ shēng rì kuài lè) = happy birthday. For a toast, use 为 + noun + 干杯: 为我们的友谊干杯 (wèi wǒ men de yǒu yì gān bēi) = here's to our friendship. You can also say 为你的健康干杯 (wèi nǐ de jiàn kāng gān bēi) = here's to your health. These are short, reusable frames, not fixed ceremonial speeches.
When to use it
Use 干杯 when glasses are raised and you want to invite everyone to drink. It is friendly and common at meals, birthdays, and celebrations. Use 祝你好运 before a specific event, such as an exam, interview, or journey. 祝你成功 is a little more formal and works well for a big project or competition. When someone wishes you luck, a simple 谢谢 (xiè xie) is enough, or you can return the wish with 也祝你一切顺利 (yě zhù nǐ yí qiè shùn lì). Avoid using 祝你好运 for a sad or serious situation; it is for positive future events.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
明天你要面试，祝你好运！
You have an interview tomorrow. Good luck!míng tiān nǐ yào miàn shì, zhù nǐ hǎo yùn谢谢！也祝你一切顺利。
Thank you! And I wish you all the best too.xiè xie! yě zhù nǐ yí qiè shùn lì来，为我们的友谊干杯！
Come, here's to our friendship!lái, wèi wǒ men de yǒu yì gān bēi干杯！祝你成功！
Cheers! I wish you success!gān bēi! zhù nǐ chéng gōngA little context goes a long way
干杯 literally means 'dry cup', but in many casual settings people sip rather than drain the glass; at more formal banquets, finishing may be expected. Watch your host and follow their lead. 祝你好运 is warm and appropriate for positive events, but for a serious illness or condolence, use 保重 (bǎo zhòng, take care) instead. Politeness also depends on who is older or senior; a younger person often toasts first with both hands on the glass.
One thing to watch for
Using 祝你好运 as a general 'good luck' for any situation, including when someone is sick or facing a serious problem.
Try this instead: 祝你好运 is for positive future events like exams or interviews. For someone who is ill or going through a hard time, say 保重 (bǎo zhòng, take care) or 祝你早日康复 (zhù nǐ zǎo rì kāng fù, wish you a speedy recovery).
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1Your friend has a job interview tomorrow. What short good-luck phrase can you say?
Show a sample answer
祝你好运！
This directly wishes good luck before an event. 祝你成功 is also acceptable if you want to emphasize success.
2You want to toast your friendship at dinner. What phrase uses the 'here's to...' pattern?
Show a sample answer
为我们的友谊干杯！
为 (wèi) introduces what you are toasting, and 干杯 ends the toast. You could also say 为友谊干杯.
3Someone says 祝你好运 to you. Give a polite response that returns the wish.
Show a sample answer
谢谢，也祝你一切顺利！
This thanks the person and returns a good wish. A simple 谢谢 is also fine, but returning the wish is warmer.
For short toasts, remember 干杯 and 为...干杯. For good luck, use 祝你好运 or 祝你成功. Keep it brief, watch your host, and return a wish with 也祝你一切顺利.
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