How to Say Cheers in Japanese: Short Toasts for Parties and Celebrations
Learn basic Japanese toasts like Kanpai! and Omedetō, plus simple responses for birthdays, weddings, and dinners.
By LiamCulture & nuance · Yapr Learn
At a Japanese party, dinner, or celebration, the most useful phrase you can know is a short toast. The standard all-purpose toast is Kanpai! (乾杯!), which works at casual meals, work parties, weddings, and birthdays. This lesson teaches five beginner-level toast phrases, how to respond when someone toasts you, and the polite details that make a short toast sound natural. You will not learn formal speech-making here; instead, you will practice short, friendly lines you can say before everyone drinks.
By the end, you can…
- say a basic toast in Japanese at a casual or celebratory gathering.
- respond appropriately when someone says Kanpai! to me.
- offer a short personalized toast for a birthday or wedding.
- choose between casual and polite toast phrases depending on the situation.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
乾杯！
Cheers!
kanpai
The standard all-purpose toast. Use it at dinners, parties, weddings, and casual meetups. Raise your glass slightly and say it clearly.
おめでとう！
Congratulations!
omedetō
A short celebratory phrase for birthdays, graduations, new jobs, or weddings. It can stand alone as a toast or follow a name, as in Aya-san, omedetō!
お誕生日おめでとう！
Happy birthday!
otanjōbi omedetō
A birthday-specific toast. Say it before or while raising your glass. For a more polite version, add gozaimasu: otanjōbi omedetō gozaimasu.
ご結婚おめでとうございます。
Congratulations on your marriage.
gokekkon omedetō gozaimasu
A polite wedding toast. Use gozaimasu at formal receptions or when speaking to someone you do not know well.
では、乾杯しましょう！
Well then, let's toast!
dewa, kanpai shimashō
A friendly way to invite everyone to drink together. Dewa means 'well then' and softens the invitation. Use it when you are the one starting the toast.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
A simple toast can be built with a celebration word plus omedetō. For example, otanjōbi omedetō means 'happy birthday,' and gokekkon omedetō gozaimasu means 'congratulations on your marriage.' The word omedetō works like 'congratulations' and can stand alone. To make it more polite, add gozaimasu at the end. To invite everyone to drink, use kanpai shimashō, which means 'let's toast.' The plain form kanpai shiyō is more casual and is common among close friends. A safe pattern for beginners is: [celebration word] + omedetō (gozaimasu).
When to use it
Use Kanpai! at almost any gathering where people drink together, including izakaya dinners, nomikai work parties, weddings, and home parties. Use Omedetō! for personal celebrations such as a birthday, graduation, or new job. Use Otanjōbi omedetō specifically for birthdays. At a wedding reception, gokekkon omedetō gozaimasu is appropriate and polite. If you are the host or the person starting the toast, say Dewa, kanpai shimashō! and raise your glass. If someone else says Kanpai! to you, simply raise your glass, make brief eye contact, and say Kanpai! back. You do not need a long speech.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
今日はAyaさんの誕生日です。では、乾杯しましょう！
Today is Aya's birthday. Well then, let's toast!kyō wa Aya-san no tanjōbi desu. dewa, kanpai shimashō!乾杯！Ayaさん、お誕生日おめでとう！
Cheers! Aya, happy birthday!kanpai! Aya-san, otanjōbi omedetō!Ayaさん、おめでとうございます。
Aya, congratulations.Aya-san, omedetō gozaimasu.ありがとうございます。乾杯！
Thank you. Cheers!arigatō gozaimasu. kanpai!A little context goes a long way
In Japan, Kanpai! is usually said together while glasses touch or are raised. It is polite to wait until everyone has a drink before toasting. At work parties, the most senior person often gives a short toast first, and everyone joins in with Kanpai! afterward. You do not need to make a speech unless asked. A simple, clear toast is appreciated more than a long one.
One thing to watch for
Using Omedetō! for a funeral or a sad occasion because it sounds like a general 'congratulations.'
Try this instead: Omedetō is only for happy celebrations such as birthdays, weddings, and graduations. For condolences, use Okuyami mōshiagemasu. For example, at a funeral you might say Okuyami mōshiagemasu to express sympathy. Do not say Omedetō in that situation.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1You are at a friend's birthday dinner. What short toast can you say?
Show a sample answer
お誕生日おめでとう！ (Otanjōbi omedetō!)
This directly means 'happy birthday' and works as a short toast. You could also say Kanpai! first, then Otanjōbi omedetō! Both are natural.
2Someone says Kanpai! to you at a party. What is a simple, appropriate response?
Show a sample answer
乾杯！ (Kanpai!)
Repeating Kanpai! while raising your glass is the standard response. You can also add a smile or a small nod. A longer reply is not necessary.
3You are at a formal wedding reception and want to congratulate the couple politely. What phrase do you use?
Show a sample answer
ご結婚おめでとうございます。 (Gokekkon omedetō gozaimasu.)
This is the polite wedding congratulations phrase. The gozaimasu ending makes it appropriate for a formal setting. A casual alternative, Omedetō!, would be too casual here.
For most celebrations, Kanpai! is enough. Add Omedetō for personal milestones, and use gozaimasu when you need to be polite. Keep your toast short, raise your glass, and enjoy the moment.
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