When to use it
Clink glasses with 건배 at dinners and parties; friends say 짠. Pour drinks for others, not yourself, and turn your head away from elders when you drink.
Letter by letter: 건배
Korean is written in syllable blocks. Here is what each block of 건배 is made of.
| Block | Letters | Sounds |
|---|---|---|
| 건 | ㄱ + ㅓ + ㄴ | ㄱ g / k, ㅓ eo, ㄴ n (at the end) |
| 배 | ㅂ + ㅐ | ㅂ b / p, ㅐ ae |
New to the letters? Tap through the Hangul chart to hear each one.
How to type it
On a standard Korean keyboard (2-set), press these keys in order:
RㄱJㅓSㄴQㅂOㅐ
Practice with the online Korean keyboard, or learn the layout in the typing test.
Frequently asked questions
How do you say "Cheers" in Korean?
The everyday polite way is 건배 (geonbae). With close friends, say 짠.
How do you pronounce 건배?
It sounds like "geonbae". Press the speaker button on this page to hear it.
Romanization: Revised Romanization of Korean, with sound changes. Audio: a recorded native-sounding Korean voice.
Last checked: 2026-10-20