hējiǔ: 喝酒 - To Drink Alcohol

• Keywords: 喝酒, hē jiǔ, drink alcohol in Chinese, Chinese drinking culture, ganbei, baijiu, beer in Chinese, going for a drink in Chinese, how to say drink alcohol in Chinese, social drinking in China.
• Summary: Learn how to say “drink alcohol” in Chinese with the essential term 喝酒 (hē jiǔ). This comprehensive guide goes beyond a simple translation to explore the deep cultural significance of drinking in Chinese society, from business deals sealed over 白酒 (báijiǔ) to casual beers with friends. Understand the nuances of China's famous 酒桌文化 (jiǔzhuō wénhuà), avoid common mistakes, and learn practical phrases to confidently navigate any social or professional situation involving alcohol in China.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): hē jiǔ
• Part of Speech: Verb-Object Phrase (often functions as a single verb)
• HSK Level: HSK 1
• Concise Definition: To drink alcohol.
• In a Nutshell: 喝酒 (hē jiǔ) is the default phrase in Mandarin Chinese for the act of consuming alcoholic beverages. It is a compound of 喝 (hē), meaning “to drink,” and 酒 (jiǔ), meaning “alcohol.” While it can be a neutral description, the phrase is deeply intertwined with social activities, celebrations, and business rituals in China. It's much more specific than the English “to drink,” which could refer to any beverage.

• 喝 (hē): This character means “to drink.” It's composed of two parts. The left side is the mouth radical 口 (kǒu), indicating an action done with the mouth. The right side, 曷 (hé), provides the phonetic sound for the character.
• 酒 (jiǔ): This character means “alcohol,” “liquor,” or “wine.” The radical on the left is 氵(shuǐ), the “three drops of water” radical, signifying that it's a liquid. The right side, 酉 (yǒu), is a pictogram of an ancient jar used for fermenting or storing alcohol.
• Together, 喝酒 (hē jiǔ) literally and logically means “to drink alcohol.”

In Chinese culture, drinking alcohol is rarely just about personal enjoyment or quenching thirst; it's a powerful social tool. The act of 喝酒 is central to building and strengthening 关系 (guānxi), or social connections. This contrasts sharply with casual Western “social drinking.” While having a beer with a friend is common in both cultures, drinking in a formal Chinese context—especially a business dinner—is a highly structured event known as 酒桌文化 (jiǔzhuō wénhuà), or “drinking table culture.” This involves a complex etiquette of toasting (敬酒 jìngjiǔ), seating arrangements, and showing respect. A toast from a superior is not a mere suggestion but a gesture of inclusion that is difficult to refuse without causing them to lose 面子 (miànzi), or “face.” Sharing a drink is seen as a sign of sincerity, trust, and camaraderie. The willingness to 喝酒 together, particularly the strong spirit 白酒 (báijiǔ), can signify that you are “one of us,” breaking down barriers and paving the way for business deals or deeper personal friendships.

喝酒 is used across all levels of formality, but the context is crucial.

• Casual Socializing: Inviting a friend with “我们去喝酒吧 (Wǒmen qù hē jiǔ ba)” is very common and relaxed, equivalent to “Let's go for a drink.” This usually implies beer (啤酒 píjiǔ) at a casual restaurant or bar.
• Business and Formal Dinners: In this context, 喝酒 is a key part of the 应酬 (yìngchóu), or obligatory social engagement. The focus is often on toasting to show respect to clients, bosses, and elders. The ability to drink, or at least participate gracefully, is often seen as a valuable professional skill.
• Family Celebrations: During holidays like Chinese New Year, weddings, and birthdays, 喝酒 is an integral part of the celebration, symbolizing joy and togetherness.

The connotation of 喝酒 is generally neutral to positive (social bonding), but it can become negative if it refers to excessive drinking, which is better described by the term 酗酒 (xùjiǔ), “alcoholism.”

• Example 1:
  • 你喜欢喝酒吗？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ xǐhuān hē jiǔ ma?
  • English: Do you like to drink alcohol?
  • Analysis: A standard, neutral question to learn about someone's habits. This is a great conversation starter.
• Example 2:
  • 晚上一起去喝点儿酒怎么样？
  • Pinyin: Wǎnshàng yīqǐ qù hē diǎnr jiǔ zěnmeyàng?
  • English: How about we go for a (little) drink tonight?
  • Analysis: A very common and friendly invitation. The “点儿 (diǎnr)” softens the suggestion, making it sound more casual.
• Example 3:
  • 对不起，我不会喝酒。
  • Pinyin: Duìbùqǐ, wǒ bù huì hē jiǔ.
  • English: Sorry, I can't drink alcohol / I don't drink.
  • Analysis: This is the most common and polite way for a non-drinker to refuse alcohol. “不会 (bù huì)” implies it's a fixed state (you're a non-drinker), not just a refusal for this one occasion.
• Example 4:
  • 在中国，跟客户吃饭常常需要喝酒。
  • Pinyin: Zài Zhōngguó, gēn kèhù chīfàn chángcháng xūyào hē jiǔ.
  • English: In China, you often need to drink alcohol when having a meal with clients.
  • Analysis: This sentence describes the business culture (应酬 yìngchóu) where drinking is often an expectation, not just an option.
• Example 5:
  • 他昨天喝了太多酒，今天头疼。
  • Pinyin: Tā zuótiān hē le tài duō jiǔ, jīntiān tóuténg.
  • English: He drank too much alcohol yesterday, and has a headache today.
  • Analysis: Here, the verb-object phrase is separated by “了太多 (le tài duō)” to quantify the action. This is a very common grammatical structure.
• Example 6:
  • 开车不喝酒，喝酒不开车。
  • Pinyin: Kāichē bù hē jiǔ, hē jiǔ bù kāichē.
  • English: Don't drink and drive, don't drive and drink. (Lit: Drive car, no drink alcohol; drink alcohol, no drive car.)
  • Analysis: This is a famous and ubiquitous public service announcement slogan in China. Its parallel structure makes it memorable.
• Example 7:
  • 你的酒量怎么样？很会喝酒吗？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ de jiǔliàng zěnmeyàng? Hěn huì hē jiǔ ma?
  • English: What's your drinking capacity like? Are you good at drinking?
  • Analysis: Asking about 酒量 (jiǔliàng) is common in social drinking settings. “很会喝酒 (hěn huì hē jiǔ)” means being able to handle a lot of alcohol.
• Example 8:
  • 你想喝什么酒？啤酒还是白酒？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ xiǎng hē shénme jiǔ? Píjiǔ háishì báijiǔ?
  • English: What kind of alcohol do you want to drink? Beer or baijiu?
  • Analysis: This shows how 喝 (hē) can be paired with specific types of 酒 (jiǔ).
• Example 9:
  • 我今天开车来的，所以不能喝酒。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ jīntiān kāichē lái de, suǒyǐ bù néng hē jiǔ.
  • English: I drove here today, so I can't drink alcohol.
  • Analysis: This is one of the most effective and widely accepted excuses to politely decline a drink in any situation, business or casual.
• Example 10:
  • 为了庆祝，我们今晚不醉不归！大家都要喝酒！
  • Pinyin: Wèile qìngzhù, wǒmen jīnwǎn bù zuì bù guī! Dàjiā dōu yào hē jiǔ!
  • English: To celebrate, we're not going home until we're drunk tonight! Everyone has to drink!
  • Analysis: This demonstrates a very enthusiastic and celebratory context for drinking. “不醉不归 (bù zuì bù guī)” is a common idiom used among friends.

• Mistake 1: Using “喝 (hē)” alone for alcohol.
  • A learner might say “我们去喝吧 (Wǒmen qù hē ba)” trying to say “Let's go for a drink (alcohol).” This is too ambiguous in Chinese. The listener's immediate response will be “喝什么？(Hē shénme?)” - “Drink what?” You must specify 酒 (jiǔ) to make it clear you mean alcohol.
  • Correct: 我们去喝酒吧 (Wǒmen qù hē jiǔ ba).
• Mistake 2: Confusing temporary refusal with being a non-drinker.
  • If someone offers you a drink and you say “我不喝 (Wǒ bù hē),” it can sound a bit blunt, like “I'm not drinking (right now/this).”
  • Better: For a permanent state, say “我不会喝酒 (Wǒ bù huì hē jiǔ),” which means “I don't (know how to) drink alcohol.” This is the standard way to identify yourself as a non-drinker.
  • Also Good: “我不喝酒 (Wǒ bù hē jiǔ)” is also a clear statement that you are a non-drinker.
• False Friend: “Drink” vs. “喝酒 (hē jiǔ)”.
  • In English, asking “Do you want to get a drink?” almost exclusively implies an alcoholic beverage. In Chinese, asking “你想喝点东西吗？(Nǐ xiǎng hē diǎn dōngxi ma?)” - “Do you want to drink something?” - could mean coffee, tea, water, or soda. 喝酒 (hē jiǔ) is specifically and unambiguously about alcohol.

• 干杯 (gānbēi) - “Cheers!” but literally means “dry the cup.” The essential phrase for toasting.
• 酒桌文化 (jiǔzhuō wénhuà) - The complex “drinking table culture” of etiquette, toasting, and social maneuvering.
• 白酒 (báijiǔ) - “White alcohol”; the strong, clear sorghum-based spirit that is central to formal Chinese banquets.
• 啤酒 (píjiǔ) - Beer. The most common alcoholic beverage for casual get-togethers.
• 敬酒 (jìngjiǔ) - To respectfully propose a toast to someone, a key action in 酒桌文化.
• 酒量 (jiǔliàng) - “Alcohol capacity”; the amount of alcohol a person can consume before getting drunk.
• 醉 (zuì) - The state of being drunk or intoxicated.
• 应酬 (yìngchóu) - Social obligations, often for business, which almost always involve dining and drinking.
• 关系 (guānxi) - Social networks and relationships, which are often built and maintained through activities like 喝酒.
• 酗酒 (xùjiǔ) - To drink alcohol to excess; alcoholism. This has a strongly negative medical and social connotation.