King's Kung-Fu& Tai Chi

Japanese symbol for “cheers”

Romaji: kanpai
cheers; bottoms-up; prosit

In Japanese, cheers is , read (kanpai).

Before using these characters for a tattoo, check them with a native speaker. Dictionary words often have several meanings, and the right choice depends on context.

Meanings

  1. int cheers; bottoms-up; prosit
  2. n, vi, vs toast; drink (in honor or celebration of someone or something)
  3. n, vi, vs drinking one's glass dry

Written forms: . Readings: .

Kanji and stroke order

drought, dry, desiccate
on: カン、ケン
kun: かわ.く、かわ.かす、ほ.す、ひ.る
11 strokes · JLPT 2
counter for cupfuls, wine glass, glass
on: ハイ
kun: さかずき
8 strokes · JLPT 2

Other Japanese words for “cheers”

WordReadingMeaning
かっさい kassaicheers; applause; ovation
スコール sukooruskoal; skol; cheers
ケー・ピー kee・piicheers
チンチン chinchincheers; prosit
プロージット puroojittoprosit; cheers; to your health

Related words

Words that share a kanji.

WordReadingMeaning
かんそう kansoudryness; aridity; drying (e.g. clothes)
かんでんち kandenchidry cell battery
かんき kankidry season
かわかす kawakasuto dry (clothes, etc.); to desiccate
かんぶつ kanbutsudry provisions; dried food; dried goods
しゅくはい shukuhaitoast; congratulatory cup
まんぱい manpaifull (of a container, vessel, etc.); filled to the brim
せいいっぱい seiippaithe best one can do; one's best effort

See also: Chinese symbol for “cheers”.

Data: JMdict (CC BY-SA 4.0); KANJIDIC2 (CC BY-SA 4.0); KanjiVG (CC BY-SA 3.0); wordfreq (CC BY-SA 4.0 (data)). Retrieved 2026-10-22.