Skip to main content
Taiwan Drinking Culture: Kanpai & Dice
February 15, 2025

Taiwan Drinking Culture: Kanpai & Dice

How to survive a business dinner or a night at a heat-fry (Re Chao) restaurant without offending anyone.

The Toast (Jing Jiu)

  • Two Hands: Hold your glass with one hand, support the bottom with the other.
  • Eye Contact: Essential.
  • Position: If you are junior, clink your glass lower than the senior person's glass rim.

The "Kanpai"

  • In Taiwan, "Gan Bei" literally means "Dry Cup".
  • If someone says it, they expect you to finish the glass.
  • If you can't, say "Sui Yi" (at your pleasure/randomly), which means sip as you like.

Dice Games (Liar's Dice)

  • Played everywhere from KTVs to bars.
  • Learn it. It breaks the ice faster than any conversation.

Contents