The 飲み会 (nomikai — drinking party) and other workplace social events are an important part of Japanese office culture. How you behave — and what you say — at these events can shape your workplace relationships as much as your work performance.
| Situation | Phrase | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Toast | 乾杯！(Kanpai!) | Always wait for 乾杯 before drinking |
| Offer a drink | 〜はいかがですか？ | Offer to others before refilling yourself |
| Decline a drink | ちょっとお酒が弱くて… | Polite way to avoid alcohol |
| Compliment boss | 今日もお疲れ様でした！ | Standard after-work appreciation |
| Order food | 〜をお願いします | Order through the facilitator often |
| Leave early | お先に失礼します | Standard exit phrase |
| Thank host | ご馳走になりました | Thank the person who paid |
The 乾杯 (Toast) Ritual
Yuka「乾杯」の前に飲んじゃダメ！幹事さんの音頭を待って。
(Don’t drink before 乾杯! Wait for the organizer’s signal.)
Rei上司のグラスより低い位置でグラスを合わせるのが礼儀！
(Hold your glass lower than your superior’s when clinking — it’s etiquette!)
The nomikai protocol: wait for the organizer (幹事, kanji) to give a brief speech, then everyone raises their glasses and says 乾杯 together. Don’t sip before.
Being a Good Guest at Nomikai
| Situation | Appropriate phrase | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Before pouring yourself | 〇〇さん、よかったらいかがですか？ | Offer to others first |
| Receiving a pour | ありがとうございます。いただきます。 | Accept graciously |
| Declining alcohol | お酒があまり得意でなくて。ジュースでいいですか？ | It’s OK to drink non-alcohol |
| Conversation with boss | 最近、〇〇はいかがですか？ | Safe small talk opener |
| Complimenting the food | これ、おいしいですね！ | Great icebreaker |
Leaving the Nomikai
Yuka「お先に失礼します」は早退の時の定番。お辞儀を忘れずに！
(「お先に失礼します」is the standard early-exit phrase. Don’t forget to bow!)
Rei二次会は断ってもいいよ。「明日早いので、今日はこれで失礼します」が自然。
(It’s OK to skip the second-round bar. 「早いので、今日はこれで失礼します」is natural.)
| Exit situation | Phrase |
|---|---|
| Standard exit | お先に失礼します。今日は楽しかったです！ |
| Declining second round | 楽しい席ですが、明日が早いので、今日はこれで失礼させていただきます。 |
| Thanking the host | 今日はお疲れ様でした。ご馳走になりました。ありがとうございます。 |
| Next morning at office | 昨日はお世話になりました。楽しかったです。 |
After the Party: Next-Day Office Etiquette
The morning after a 飲み会, it’s normal to thank organizers and seniors. Say:
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 昨日はお世話になりました。 | Thank you for yesterday. |
| 昨日は楽しかったです。ありがとうございました。 | Yesterday was fun. Thank you. |
| 幹事、お疲れ様でした！ | Great job organizing! (to the kanji) |
When to Decline a Nomikai
Yuka飲み会は強制じゃない。でも全部断ると関係が薄れることも。月1回くらいは顔を出すと印象がいい。
(Nomikai aren’t mandatory. But never attending can thin workplace bonds. Showing up ~once a month makes a good impression.)
Acceptable reasons to decline: health, family, religion, early morning next day. Just be honest and polite — no need to fabricate elaborate excuses.
Quick Quiz
1. What do you say before drinking at the start of a nomikai?
→ 乾杯！
2. You need to leave early. What do you say?
→ お先に失礼します。
3. Thank the person who paid for everyone: _____
→ ご馳走になりました。ありがとうございます。
Have you been to a Japanese 飲み会? Share your experience in the comments! 💬
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