Pouring Drinks and Social Manners

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TL;DR 🦄

🥂 건배! [geon-bae!] — "Cheers!"

🍶 제가 따라 드릴게요 [je-ga tta-ra deu-ril-ge-yo] — "Let me pour for you"

🍻 한 잔 더 하실래요? [han jan deo ha-sil-lae-yo?] — "Would you like one more glass?"

🙅 저는 술이 약해요 [jeo-neun su-ri ya-kae-yo] — "I'm a lightweight with alcohol"

🐢 천천히 드세요 [cheon-cheo-ni deu-se-yo] — "Please take your time / drink slowly"

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🎧 Iru Helper Note: Hear every phrase in this lesson spoken aloud and practice your pronunciation with the Iru Helper Widgets.

🌈 The Big Picture

Drinking together — 술자리 [sul-ja-ri] — is a big part of Korean social life, especially with coworkers (회식) or family gatherings. There's a whole etiquette built around pouring and receiving drinks, and following it (even imperfectly) shows respect.

제가 따라 드릴게요 — "Let me pour for you" (offer to pour for someone senior/older)

감사합니다, 한 잔 받겠습니다 — "Thank you, I'll have one glass" (accepting with two hands)

건배! — "Cheers!" (said before the first sip, glasses lightly clinked)

The key idea: drinks are poured for others, not for yourself, and the gesture is done with both hands — especially toward someone older or more senior.

🎭 첫잔 Etiquette: The First Round

The 첫잔 [cheot-jan] ("first glass/round") has its own mini-ritual. The most senior or oldest person at the table is usually poured first, and everyone waits for the 건배 before drinking. When receiving a drink from someone older, hold your glass with both hands (or support your pouring arm with your other hand), and it's polite to turn your head slightly away from elders as you take your first sip.

(윗사람이 따라줄 때) 감사합니다 — "(When someone senior pours for you) Thank you"

다 같이 건배할까요? — "Shall we all toast together?"

After the first round, it becomes more relaxed — people pour for each other casually, and you can offer 한 잔 더 하실래요? to keep the round going, or politely decline more with 저는 술이 약해서 그만 마실게요.

🧳 Essential Phrase Kit

건배! [geon-bae!] — "Cheers!"

제가 따라 드릴게요 [je-ga tta-ra deu-ril-ge-yo] — "Let me pour for you"

감사합니다, 한 잔 받겠습니다 [gam-sa-ham-ni-da, han jan bat-get-sseum-ni-da] — "Thank you, I'll have one glass"

한 잔 더 하실래요? [han jan deo ha-sil-lae-yo?] — "Would you like one more glass?"

저는 술이 약해요 [jeo-neun su-ri ya-kae-yo] — "I'm a lightweight with alcohol"

저는 술을 잘 못 마셔요 [jeo-neun su-reul jal mot ma-syeo-yo] — "I don't drink well/much"

조금만 마실게요 [jo-geum-man ma-sil-ge-yo] — "I'll just drink a little"

천천히 드세요 [cheon-cheo-ni deu-se-yo] — "Please take your time"

오늘 잘 마셨습니다 [o-neul jal ma-syeot-sseum-ni-da] — "I had a good drink today" (closing phrase)

다 같이 건배할까요? [da ga-chi geon-bae-hal-kka-yo?] — "Shall we all toast together?"

🛠️ Putting Together

A: (소주를 들고) 부장님, 제가 한 잔 따라 드릴게요.

B: 어, 고마워. 천천히 마셔.

A: "(Holding the soju bottle) Director, let me pour you a glass." B: "Oh, thanks. Drink slowly."

🦄 Grammar note: When pouring for someone senior, hold the bottle with both hands (or support your pouring arm) — the phrase 제가 따라 드릴게요 pairs naturally with this gesture.

A: 자, 다 같이 건배할까요? 건배!

B: 건배! 오늘 좋은 자리네요.

A: "Alright, shall we all toast together? Cheers!" B: "Cheers! This is a nice gathering today."

🦄 Grammar note: 건배 is said while lightly clinking glasses — when toasting with someone senior, it's polite to hold your glass slightly lower than theirs.

A: 한 잔 더 하실래요?

B: 감사합니다만, 저는 술이 약해서 조금만 마실게요.

A: "Would you like one more glass?" B: "Thank you, but I'm a lightweight with alcohol, so I'll just drink a little."

🦄 Grammar note: 감사합니다만 + (reason) + 조금만 마실게요 is a soft way to slow down without flatly refusing — it stays warm while setting a limit.

🗣️ Speaking Practice: Mini Dialogue

민수: 지은 씨, 제가 한 잔 따라 드릴게요.

[ji-eun ssi, je-ga han jan tta-ra deu-ril-ge-yo]

"Jieun, let me pour you a glass."

지은: 감사합니다, 한 잔 받겠습니다.

[gam-sa-ham-ni-da, han jan bat-get-sseum-ni-da]

"Thank you, I'll have one glass."

민수: 자, 건배할까요? 건배!

[ja, geon-bae-hal-kka-yo? geon-bae!]

"Alright, shall we toast? Cheers!"

지은: 건배! 와, 맛있네요.

[geon-bae! wa, ma-sin-ne-yo]

"Cheers! Wow, this is good."

민수: 한 잔 더 하실래요?

[han jan deo ha-sil-lae-yo?]

"Would you like one more glass?"

지은: 저는 술이 약해서 천천히 마실게요. 감사합니다.

[jeo-neun su-ri ya-kae-seo cheon-cheo-ni ma-sil-ge-yo. gam-sa-ham-ni-da]

"I'm a lightweight with alcohol, so I'll drink slowly. Thank you."

🧭 Speaking Tip

In Korean drinking culture, body language carries as much meaning as words. When pouring for someone older or more senior, use both hands (or steady your pouring arm with your free hand), and when receiving, hold your glass with both hands too. During a toast, it's polite to keep your glass slightly lower than an elder's. If you don't drink much, it's completely fine to say so warmly — 저는 술이 약해요 or 조금만 마실게요 — rather than refusing outright, which can feel abrupt.

⚠️ Pitfalls to Dodge

❌ Pouring a drink for someone senior with just one hand — use both hands, or support your pouring arm with your other hand.

❌ Drinking directly facing an elder without turning slightly away — a small turn of the head/body when taking your first sip shows respect.

❌ Flatly refusing the first drink — even a small symbolic sip (조금만 마실게요) is more graceful than an outright "no."

❌ Only receiving drinks and never offering to pour for others — reciprocity (제가 따라 드릴게요) is part of the etiquette too.

You've got the basics of 술자리 etiquette down — 건배! 🍻✨

Try this exercise

Instructions: For each prompt, write your response in Korean using the patterns from this lesson. Then check the toggle below for a sample answer.

1. Say "Cheers!"

Answer

건배! (Cheers!)

2. Say "Let me pour for you."

Answer

제가 따라 드릴게요. (Let me pour for you.)

3. Say "Thank you, I'll have one glass."

Answer

감사합니다, 한 잔 받겠습니다. (Thank you, I'll have one glass.)

4. Say "Would you like one more glass?"

Answer

한 잔 더 하실래요? (Would you like one more glass?)

5. Say "I'm a lightweight with alcohol."

Answer

저는 술이 약해요. (I'm a lightweight with alcohol.)

6. Say "I don't drink well/much."

Answer

저는 술을 잘 못 마셔요. (I don't drink well/much.)

7. Say "I'll just drink a little."

Answer

조금만 마실게요. (I'll just drink a little.)

8. Say "Please take your time."

Answer

천천히 드세요. (Please take your time.)

9. Say "I had a good drink today."

Answer

오늘 잘 마셨습니다. (I had a good drink today.)

10. Say "Shall we all toast together?"

Answer

다 같이 건배할까요? (Shall we all toast together?)

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Vocabulary Box

건배 — cheers/toast

술자리 — drinking gathering

회식 — company dinner

따르다 — to pour

받다 — to receive

약하다 — to be weak

한 잔 — one glass

조금만 — just a little

천천히 — slowly

첫잔 — first glass/round

Pitfalls 💡

Pour and receive with two hands for elders.

Turn slightly away when drinking in front of elders.

Soften refusals — don't flatly say no.

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Want more reps? Head to the Practice Hub below for three full exercise sets!

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🎯 Practice Hub — Pouring Drinks and Social Manners

Work through these three exercises to practice the language of Korean drinking etiquette. Try answering out loud before checking each answer — and use the Iru Helper Widgets above if you want to hear the pronunciation again.

Exercise 1 — Pouring & Toasting 🥂

A. Say "Cheers!"

Answer

건배! [geon-bae!]

B. Say "Let me pour for you."

Answer

제가 따라 드릴게요. [je-ga tta-ra deu-ril-ge-yo]

C. Say "Thank you, I'll have one glass."

Answer

감사합니다, 한 잔 받겠습니다. [gam-sa-ham-ni-da, han jan bat-get-sseum-ni-da]

D. Say "Shall we all toast together?"

Answer

다 같이 건배할까요? [da ga-chi geon-bae-hal-kka-yo?]

E. Say "Director, let me pour you a glass."

Answer

부장님, 제가 한 잔 따라 드릴게요. [bu-jang-nim, je-ga han jan tta-ra deu-ril-ge-yo]

F. Say "Oh, thanks. Drink slowly."

Answer

어, 고마워. 천천히 마셔. [eo, go-ma-wo. cheon-cheo-ni ma-syeo]

G. Say "Alright, shall we all toast together? Cheers!"

Answer

자, 다 같이 건배할까요? 건배! [ja, da ga-chi geon-bae-hal-kka-yo? geon-bae!]

H. Say "Cheers! This is a nice gathering today."

Answer

건배! 오늘 좋은 자리네요. [geon-bae! o-neul jo-eun ja-ri-ne-yo]

I. Say "Wow, this is good." (about a drink)

Answer

와, 맛있네요. [wa, ma-sin-ne-yo]

J. Say "Alright, shall we toast? Cheers!"

Answer

자, 건배할까요? 건배! [ja, geon-bae-hal-kka-yo? geon-bae!]

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Quick Reference

건배 — cheers/toast

따라 드릴게요 — let me pour for you

받겠습니다 — I'll receive (it)

다 같이 — all together

자리 — gathering/seat

Exercise 2 — Pacing & Declining 🙅

A. Say "Would you like one more glass?"

Answer

한 잔 더 하실래요?

B. Say "I'm a lightweight with alcohol."

Answer

저는 술이 약해요.

C. Say "I don't drink well/much."

Answer

저는 술을 잘 못 마셔요.

D. Say "I'll just drink a little."

Answer

조금만 마실게요.

E. Say "Please take your time."

Answer

천천히 드세요.

F. Say "Thank you, but I'm a lightweight with alcohol, so I'll just drink a little."

Answer

감사합니다만, 저는 술이 약해서 조금만 마실게요.

G. Say "I'm a lightweight with alcohol, so I'll drink slowly. Thank you."

Answer

저는 술이 약해서 천천히 마실게요. 감사합니다.

H. Say "I had a good drink today."

Answer

오늘 잘 마셨습니다.

I. Say "Jieun, let me pour you a glass."

Answer

지은 씨, 제가 한 잔 따라 드릴게요.

J. Say "Thank you, I'll have one glass."

Answer

감사합니다, 한 잔 받겠습니다.

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Quick Reference

약하다 — to be weak (low tolerance)

잘 못 마셔요 — don't drink well

조금만 — just a little

천천히 — slowly

~만 — but/however (softener before refusal)

Exercise 3 — Full Conversations 💬

A. "(소주를 들고) 부장님, 제가 한 잔 따라 드릴게요." — What does this mean?

Answer

"(Holding the soju bottle) Director, let me pour you a glass."

B. Respond with "Oh, thanks. Drink slowly."

Answer

어, 고마워. 천천히 마셔.

C. Say "Alright, shall we all toast together? Cheers!"

Answer

자, 다 같이 건배할까요? 건배!

D. Say "Cheers! This is a nice gathering today."

Answer

건배! 오늘 좋은 자리네요.

E. Say "Would you like one more glass?"

Answer

한 잔 더 하실래요?

F. Say "Thank you, but I'm a lightweight with alcohol, so I'll just drink a little."

Answer

감사합니다만, 저는 술이 약해서 조금만 마실게요.

G. Say "Jieun, let me pour you a glass."

Answer

지은 씨, 제가 한 잔 따라 드릴게요.

H. Say "Thank you, I'll have one glass."

Answer

감사합니다, 한 잔 받겠습니다.

I. Say "Wow, this is good." (about a drink)

Answer

와, 맛있네요.

J. Say "I'm a lightweight with alcohol, so I'll drink slowly. Thank you."

Answer

저는 술이 약해서 천천히 마실게요. 감사합니다.

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Cheat Sheet

건배 — cheers

따라 드릴게요 — let me pour for you

한 잔 받겠습니다 — I'll have one glass

술이 약해요 — I'm a lightweight

조금만 마실게요 — I'll drink a little

🎉 잘했어요! You're ready to navigate a Korean drinking gathering with confidence and courtesy!