How to pronounce “Gan bei” (cheers)

干杯gān bēi

Literally: dry the cup.

❌ What English speakers usually say

“gone bay” with a falling end

✅ What to say instead

gahn-BAY — both syllables flat and high, like a held note

The shape of the word

Tap any syllable to hear it. The curve above each one is the tone you are aiming for.

Syllable	Tone	Practise it
干 gān	First tone — high and flat	gan — open drill →
杯 bēi	First tone — high and flat	bei — open drill →

Worth knowing

Taken literally it means empty the glass in one go — and at a Chinese table it often is meant literally.

How do you pronounce Gan bei?

Gan bei is 干杯, gān bēi — gahn-BAY — both syllables flat and high, like a held note. Literally it means dry the cup.

What is the most common mistake with Gan bei?

“gone bay” with a falling end

Is there anything else worth knowing about Gan bei?

Taken literally it means empty the glass in one go — and at a Chinese table it often is meant literally.

Can you actually say it?

Reading a respelling is not the same as producing the tones. The free 2-minute check listens to you and shows which syllables land wrong.