원샷
wonsyat[wʌ̹nɕʰa̠t̚]
The English phrase "bottoms up" can be translated into Korean using 원샷 (wonsyat) or 건배. Wiktionary also lists 죽 마셔 (juk masyeo).
Meaning: Cheers! (intj)
Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 원샷 | wonsyat | [wʌ̹nɕʰa̠t̚] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| 건배 | geonbae | [kʌ̹nbɛ] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) [kʌ̹nbe̞] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| 죽 마셔 | juk masyeo |
The term 원샷 is used as an imperative to encourage someone to finish their drink immediately. While 건배 is a standard toast for "Cheers!", 원샷 specifically implies drinking the entire contents of the glass in one go.
What does it mean word for word?
The term 원샷 is a loanword from English, literally meaning "one shot".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
건배 is the more formal and standard way to propose a toast, while 원샷 is an informal, colloquial way to tell someone to finish their drink in one gulp.
How does it change in a sentence?
To make the toast 건배 more polite or formal in a group setting, you can use the form 건배합시다.
How do you pronounce it?
wonsyat
Did you know?
- In traditional Korean drinking etiquette, it is often considered polite to turn your head away from elders when drinking after a toast like 건배.
- When clinking glasses during 건배, the junior person should ensure the rim of their glass is lower than the rim of the senior person's glass.
- If you use the phrase 죽 마셔, you are literally saying 'drink like porridge', which uses the word for porridge, 죽, to imply consuming something entirely and quickly.
Examples in context
- 건배!Bottoms up!This sentence is useful for seeing how to use 건배 for a toast.Tatoeba #5269435 by Sudajaengi, translation #21180 by CM
- 자, 다 같이 원샷!ja, da gat-i won-syat!Now, everyone, bottoms up!
- 이번 술은 원샷 하자.i-beon sul-eun won-syat ha-ja.Let's bottom this drink up.
Example conversation
Two friends are celebrating at a restaurant with drinks.
- 지훈 Ji-hun지은 씨, 우리 축하의 의미로 원샷 할까요?Ji-eun ssi, u-ri chuk-ha-ui ui-mi-ro won-syat hal-kka-yo?Ji-eun, shall we bottoms up to celebrate?
- 지은 Ji-eun좋아요, 지훈 씨! 원샷!jo-a-yo, Ji-hun ssi! won-syat!Sounds good, Ji-hun! Bottoms up!
- 지훈 Ji-hun정말 시원하네요.jeong-mal si-won-ha-ne-yo.That was really refreshing.
- 지은 Ji-eun그러게요, 기분이 너무 좋아요.geu-reo-ge-yo, gi-bun-i neo-mu jo-a-yo.I agree, I feel so good.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “bottoms up” translations and entries 원샷, 건배, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
