How to Say Cheers in Korean and Make a Short Toast

How to Say Cheers in Korean and Make a Short Toast

Imagine sitting with friends after a long week. Someone raises a glass and says something before everyone takes a sip. You recognize the moment, but what should you say in Korean?

The Korean word for cheers in a toast is 건배 (geonbae). It is more than a word to shout when glasses are raised. You can use it to invite people to toast together, introduce a wish for the future, respond to someone else's toast, or describe a celebration that happened in the past.

If you are learning how to say cheers in Korean, start with four expressions: 건배, 건배하자, 미래를 위하여, and 건배했어요. Each one has a different role in a conversation. Learning how they connect will help you make a short toast instead of memorizing a single translation.

What Does 건배 Mean in Korean?

건배 (geonbae) is a noun meaning a toast. It refers to people raising their glasses and drinking together to celebrate something or express a wish. The same word can also be shouted together when people raise their glasses.

In English, 건배 can correspond to both the noun "a toast" and the exclamation "Cheers!" The exact translation depends on how it is used.

Compare these two sentences:

• 건배를 했어요. — We had a toast.
• 건배! — Cheers!

The first sentence describes an action that happened. The second is the word people say during the toast itself.

The Korean expression is also used with the verb 하다 (hada), meaning to do. This gives us 건배하다 (geonbaehada), meaning to make a toast or toast together.

건배 and 건배하다: Noun Versus Verb

Expression	Part of Speech	Meaning	Example
건배	Noun	A toast; cheers	건배!
건배하다	Verb	To make a toast	친구들과 건배하다
건배를 하다	Noun + verb	To have a toast	우리 건배를 해요.
건배했어요	Past-tense verb	Made a toast	친구들과 건배했어요.

Notice that 건배 and 건배하다 are related but do not perform exactly the same grammatical job. 건배 names the toast, while 건배하다 describes the action.

How to Say Cheers in Korean: 건배하자

Knowing the word 건배 is useful, but you also need a natural way to invite other people to join you.

우리 건배하자! (Uri geonbaehaja!) means "Let's make a toast!" or "Let's toast together!"

Break the expression into three parts:

• 우리 (uri) — We / us.
• 건배 (geonbae) — A toast.
• 하자 (haja) — Let's do it.

The ending -자 is attached to the verb stem 하- to invite someone to do something together. It is a casual suggestion, so 건배하자 is suitable for friends or people who normally speak informally.

For example:

• 우리 먹자! — Let's eat!
• 같이 가자! — Let's go together!
• 우리 건배하자! — Let's make a toast!

Choosing a Polite or Casual Invitation

The situation and your relationship with the other person affect which ending you choose.

Korean Expression	Pronunciation	Meaning	Usage
건배하자!	geonbaehaja	Let's toast!	Casual, friends
건배해요!	geonbaehaeyo	Let's make a toast!	Polite, everyday conversation
건배합시다!	geonbaehapsida	Let's make a toast!	Formal or group setting

For a short toast with close friends, 건배하자 is a natural choice. If you are speaking to colleagues or people you do not know well, 건배합시다 can sound more appropriate in a formal group setting.

Remember that changing the ending changes the relationship and tone of the invitation. The basic action remains the same.

How to Respond to a Korean Toast: 미래를 위하여!

After someone invites the group to toast, the next step is often to say what everyone is celebrating or wishing for.

A useful expression is 미래를 위하여! (Miraereul wihayeo!), meaning "To the future!" or "For the future!"

This expression is built from two parts:

• 미래 (mirae) — The future.
• 를 위하여 (reul wihayeo) — For the sake of / in honor of.

The particle 를 marks 미래 as the object of 위하다. The expression 위하여 is a form of 위하다, which can describe doing something for a particular person, purpose, or goal.

When used as a toast, 미래를 위하여 expresses the wish or purpose behind the celebration. It does not need to be a complete sentence to work as a short toast response.

Other Short Toast Expressions

Korean	Pronunciation	English Meaning
건강을 위하여!	Geongang-eul wihayeo!	To our health!
우정을 위하여!	Ujeong-eul wihayeo!	To friendship!
성공을 위하여!	Seonggong-eul wihayeo!	To success!
미래를 위하여!	Miraereul wihayeo!	To the future!

You can also hear someone simply say 위하여! as a short response. The intended meaning comes from the wish or purpose already mentioned in the conversation.

Put the Expressions Together

Here is a simple example of how a short toast can happen:

A: 우리 건배하자! — Let's make a toast!

B: 좋아! — Sounds good!

A: 우리의 미래를 위하여! — To our future!

B: 위하여! — To it!

Everyone: 건배! — Cheers!

There is a clear sequence: one person invites the group, someone introduces the wish, and everyone joins the toast. You do not need a long speech to make the moment meaningful.

Story 1: Celebrating a Friend's Graduation

Difficulty: Beginner

The following is an original fictional learning story. It shows how friends use 건배, 건배하자, and 미래를 위하여 in one conversation.

지난 토요일에 민수는 친구들과 함께 졸업을 축하했어요. 친구들은 저녁에 작은 식당에서 만났어요. 모두 오랜만에 만나서 기분이 좋았어요.

저녁을 먹은 후에 지훈이가 잔을 들었어요.

지훈: 오늘은 민수의 졸업을 축하하는 날이야. 우리 건배하자!

민수: 좋아! 정말 고마워.

수진: 우리의 새로운 시작과 미래를 위하여!

모두: 위하여! 건배!

친구들은 함께 건배했어요. 민수는 친구들에게 축하를 받아서 정말 행복했어요. 그들은 사진을 찍고 즐거운 시간을 보냈어요.

Story 1 Vocabulary

Korean	Pronunciation	Meaning
건배	geonbae	Cheers; a toast
건배하다	geonbaehada	To make a toast
축하하다	chukahada	To congratulate; to celebrate
졸업	joreop	Graduation
친구	chingu	Friend
모이다	moida	To gather
잔	jan	Glass; cup
들다	deulda	To raise; to lift
위하여	wihayeo	For; in honor of
미래	mirae	Future
웃다	utda	To laugh; to smile
함께	hamkke	Together

Story 1: Comprehension Questions

Read the story again and choose the answer that matches the details in the passage.

Question 1. Why did the friends meet at the restaurant?

1. To celebrate Minsu's graduation.
2. To prepare for an exam.
3. To celebrate a birthday.
4. To plan a trip.

Question 2. What did Sujin say during the toast?

1. 우리 집에 가자.
2. 우리의 새로운 시작과 미래를 위하여!
3. 내일 다시 만나요.
4. 오늘은 집에서 쉬어요.

Question 3. What does 건배하자 mean in the conversation?

1. Let's go home.
2. Let's order more food.
3. Let's make a toast.
4. Let's meet tomorrow.

Question 4. What did the friends do after Jihun suggested the toast?

1. They left the restaurant.
2. They raised their glasses and toasted together.
3. They ordered another meal.
4. They called their families.

Question 5. Which expression would be suitable for remembering the event afterward?

1. 친구들과 건배했어요.
2. 친구들과 건배할까요?
3. 친구들과 건배하자.
4. 친구들과 건배하세요.

Story 1: Answers and Explanations

1. A — To celebrate Minsu's graduation.

Look for the opening sentence that explains why the friends gathered. 졸업을 축하하다 means to celebrate someone's graduation. The purpose of the gathering is established before the conversation begins.

2. B — 우리의 새로운 시작과 미래를 위하여!

미래 means future, and 위하여 expresses the purpose or person for whom something is done. 우리의 새로운 시작과 미래를 위하여 means “For our new beginning and future!” It is a natural example of a short toast that expresses a shared hope.

3. C — Let's make a toast.

건배 is the noun used for a toast, while 건배하다 is the verb meaning to make a toast. The ending -자 changes the verb into a casual suggestion to do something together. Therefore, 건배하자 means “Let's make a toast.”

4. B — They raised their glasses and toasted together.

Use the action that follows Jihun's suggestion. 잔을 들다 means to raise a glass, and 함께 means together. These expressions show that the friends participated in the toast as a group.

5. A — 친구들과 건배했어요.

건배했어요 uses the past-tense form of 건배하다. The sentence means “I made a toast with my friends” or “We toasted with my friends,” depending on the context. It describes an event that has already happened.

Look Closer: How a Toast Changes with the Sentence Ending

The noun 건배 and the verb 건배하다 are closely related, but they do not perform exactly the same grammatical role.

• 건배 — A toast; the noun.
• 건배하다 — To make a toast; the verb.
• 건배하자 — Let's make a toast; a casual suggestion.
• 건배했어요 — Made a toast; a polite past-tense statement.

Notice how the basic meaning remains connected while the sentence ending changes the speaker's intention. A noun names the activity, a verb describes performing it, and the ending tells the listener whether the speaker is suggesting the action or describing something that happened.

Story 2: A Toast for a New Beginning

수진이는 새로운 회사에 입사했어요. 첫 출근을 마친 금요일 저녁에 동료들과 함께 식당에 갔어요. 동료들은 수진이의 새로운 시작을 축하하기 위해 작은 저녁 모임을 준비했어요.

식사가 끝날 때쯤 팀장님이 자리에서 일어났어요. 팀장님은 잔을 들고 동료들에게 말했어요.

팀장님: 오늘은 수진 씨의 새로운 시작을 축하하는 날입니다. 모두 잔을 들어 주세요.

동료들: 네!

팀장님: 우리의 새로운 시작을 위하여!

수진이: 감사합니다. 여러분과 함께 일하게 되어 정말 기뻐요.

한 동료가 웃으며 말했어요.

동료: 그럼 우리도 건배하자!

모두 잔을 들고 함께 건배했어요. 식사가 끝난 후 수진이는 친구에게 오늘 있었던 일을 이야기했어요.

수진이: 오늘 회사 동료들과 저녁을 먹었어. 팀장님이 우리의 새로운 시작을 위하여라고 말했고, 모두 함께 건배했어.

친구: 좋은 시간이었겠다. 새 회사에서 즐겁게 일하길 바라!

수진이: 고마워. 앞으로도 좋은 일이 많았으면 좋겠어.

Story 2 Vocabulary

Korean	Pronunciation	Meaning
새로운	saeroun	New
회사	hoesa	Company
입사하다	ipsahada	To join a company
첫 출근	cheot chulgeun	First day at work
금요일	geumyoil	Friday
동료	dongnyo	Colleague
시작	sijak	Beginning; start
축하하다	chukahada	To congratulate; celebrate
팀장님	timjangnim	Team leader
자리에서 일어나다	jarieseo ireonada	To stand up from one's seat
잔을 들다	janeul deulda	To raise a glass
여러분	yeoreobun	Everyone; all of you
기쁘다	gippeuda	To be happy
앞으로	apeuro	From now on; in the future
바라다	barada	To hope; to wish

Story 2: Comprehension Questions

Pay attention to the relationship between the people, the reason for the gathering, and the expressions used in the toast.

Question 1. Why did Sujin's colleagues prepare a dinner gathering?

1. To celebrate her birthday.
2. To welcome and celebrate her new beginning at the company.
3. To discuss a business trip.
4. To prepare for a company examination.

Question 2. Who suggested that everyone raise their glasses?

1. Sujin.
2. One of Sujin's friends.
3. The team leader.
4. The restaurant manager.

Question 3. What does 우리의 새로운 시작을 위하여 mean?

1. For our new beginning.
2. Let's start working tomorrow.
3. We finished our work.
4. We are going home together.

Question 4. Which expression shows that the toast actually happened?

1. 건배하자.
2. 건배할까요?
3. 함께 건배했어요.
4. 건배하세요.

Question 5. What did Sujin do after dinner?

1. She returned to the restaurant.
2. She called her team leader.
3. She told her friend about the evening.
4. She went to work again.

Story 2: Answers and Explanations

1. B — To welcome and celebrate her new beginning at the company.

The story explains that Sujin joined a new company and that her colleagues prepared dinner to celebrate her new beginning. The expression 새로운 시작 refers to a new start, while 축하하기 위해 explains the purpose of the gathering.

2. C — The team leader.

The speaker is identified by the label 팀장님 before the dialogue. The team leader stands up and asks everyone to raise their glasses. This is a direct clue about who initiated the toast.

3. A — For our new beginning.

우리의 means our, 새로운 means new, and 시작 means beginning. 위하여 expresses the purpose or person being honored. Together, 우리의 새로운 시작을 위하여 means “For our new beginning.” It is a toast expressing support for the group's future.

4. C — 함께 건배했어요.

건배했어요 is the past-tense form of 건배하다. The sentence describes a completed action. By contrast, 건배하자 is a suggestion to make a toast, and 건배할까요? is a question asking whether people should make one.

5. C — She told her friend about the evening.

The passage says 수진이는 친구에게 오늘 있었던 일을 이야기했어요. 친구에게 identifies the person she spoke to, and 이야기했어요 means she told or talked about something. The following dialogue confirms that she described the dinner and the toast.

Look Closer: Understanding 위하여 and the Purpose of a Toast

A short toast often includes a phrase explaining what the group is celebrating or wishing for. The expression 위하여 connects the toast to that purpose.

• 우리의 미래를 위하여! — For our future!
• 새로운 시작을 위하여! — For a new beginning!
• 우리의 성공을 위하여! — For our success!

The noun before 위하여 identifies the purpose or the person being honored. This makes it possible to create a meaningful toast without memorizing a completely different sentence for every occasion.

In the second story, 우리의 새로운 시작을 위하여 is not a command. It expresses what the people are raising their glasses to celebrate.

How to Say Cheers in Korean: Expressions to Remember

Here are the main expressions from both stories and the situations in which you can use them.

Expression	Meaning	Use
건배!	Cheers!	A short toast expression.
건배하다	To make a toast	Describing the action.
건배하자	Let's make a toast.	Suggesting a toast to friends.
미래를 위하여!	For the future!	Expressing a hope or purpose.
우리의 성공을 위하여!	For our success!	A toast celebrating a shared goal.
건배했어요	We made a toast.	Talking about a completed event.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you say cheers in Korean?

The common expression is 건배 (geonbae). You can say 건배! when raising your glass with other people. It is used as a short toast expression in celebratory situations.

What does 건배하자 mean?

건배하자 means “Let's make a toast.” 건배하다 is the verb meaning to make a toast, and -자 is a casual ending used to suggest doing something together. It is suitable for friends or people who normally speak informally.

How do you say “for our future” in Korean?

You can say 우리의 미래를 위하여. 미래 means future, and 위하여 expresses the purpose or person being honored. It is a suitable phrase for a toast about shared hopes.

How do you talk about a toast that happened in the past?

Use 건배했어요, the past-tense form of 건배하다. For example, 친구들과 건배했어요 means “I made a toast with my friends” or “I toasted with my friends,” depending on the context.

Final Reading Practice: Choose the Right Expression

Before finishing, consider which expression fits each situation. These examples help you connect the grammar with the purpose of the conversation.

1. You want to invite close friends to raise their glasses together. Which expression fits the situation?Answer: 건배하자. This is a casual suggestion to make a toast together.
2. You want to express a shared hope for everyone's future. What can you say?
3. Answer: 우리의 미래를 위하여! The phrase 위하여 connects the toast to the purpose or hope being celebrated.
4. You are telling a friend about a toast you made with your colleagues yesterday. Which expression should you use?
5. Answer: 동료들과 건배했어요. The past-tense ending -했어요 describes an action that has already happened.

The important point is to choose an expression according to what you want to communicate: naming a toast, inviting people to join one, expressing what you are celebrating, or remembering an event afterward.