碰杯 (pèng bēi) — to clink glasses (as a toast)

Definition

A separable verb used specifically when toasting — people gently tap their glasses together, usually while saying 干杯. Common at celebrations and dinners with alcohol.

verb
to clink glasses (as a toast)

Examples

  • 碰杯。
    Wǒ men yì qǐ lái pèng bēi qìng zhù xīn nián.
    Let's clink glasses together to celebrate the new year.
  • ，。
    Tā men pèng le sān cì bēi, hē le hěn duō jiǔ.
    They clinked glasses three times and drank a lot.
  • ，！
    Lái, wǒ men pèng yì bēi!
    Come on, let's clink a glass!

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

碰pèngtouch lightly
杯bēicup

'碰' is to touch lightly and '杯' names the cup that is touched together.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
石石shírock
Sound part声符shēngfú
並
並bìng碰pèng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

碰 is built from 石 (rock) and 並 (bìng); 石 shows the meaning, and 並 shows the sound.

Open 碰 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
木木mù
Sound part声符shēngfú
不
不bù杯bēi
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

杯 is built from 木, meaning wood, and 不, which gives the sound.

Open 杯 →

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