飲み会 (drinking party)

You'll use these set phrases throughout a company drinking party, whether you're ordering your first drink or making an excuse to leave early.

1. とりあえず、生なまビールで。

   I'll have a draft beer for now.

   The first thing you say after sitting down at an izakaya. 「とりあえず」 means you order this for now and figure out the rest later; 「生」 is short for 生ビール, and 「〜で」 means this is what you're having.

2. 乾杯かんぱい！

   Cheers!

   The Japanese 「乾杯」 doesn't require draining your glass, and there's no need to toast people one by one either; the default rule at a Japanese drinking party is to keep your glass down until everyone has a drink and someone starts the toast.

3. お注そそぎしましょうか。

   Shall I pour you a drink?

   Pouring drinks for others is basic etiquette at a Japanese drinking party, especially toward elders and superiors; 「お＋ます形＋しましょうか」 is a humble pattern for offering to help before being asked.

4. すみません、お酒さけはあまり強つよくなくて。

   Sorry, I can't really hold my liquor...

   The standard way to turn down a drink: saying you can't drink works far better than saying you don't want to, and stopping the sentence at 「なくて」 leaves it half-finished, which sounds softer; add 「ウーロン茶でも大丈夫です」 and it's complete.

5. 今日きょうは割わり勘かんにしましょう。

   Let's split the bill today.

   「割り勘」means splitting the bill evenly, the norm at peer gatherings; when a boss is present it's also common for them to pay a bit more, so there's no need to rush to do the math.

6. そろそろ終電しゅうでんなので、失礼しつれいします。

   It's almost time for the last train, so I'll get going.

   「終電」＝ the last train, the most effective and least offensive excuse for leaving a drinking party in Japan—no one will press you for details, because everyone has had to rush for it at some point.

Within a single conversation, the department head speaks in plain form while the subordinate speaks in polite form — listen for the gap.

1. manager

   まあまあ、どうぞ。

   Come on, have a drink.

   A friendly phrase offered while pouring someone a drink; here 「まあまあ」 isn't "so-so" but an interjection urging the listener to accept.
2. Subordinate

   あ、ありがとうございます。

   Oh, thank you.

   When someone pours you a drink, hold the cup with both hands and raise it slightly; saying 「すみません」 here works too — that's gratitude, not an apology.
3. manager

   今日きょうは無礼講ぶれいこうだから、気楽きらくにね。

   We're all equals today, so just take it easy, okay?

   無礼講 = "no hierarchy today." **This line is basically a formality** — take it literally and start speaking freely, and you'll step on a landmine; it's safest to keep your speech just as restrained as usual.
4. Subordinate

   はい。部長ぶちょう、お注そそぎします。

   Yes, sir. Let me pour you a drink.

   無礼講 has just been declared, and the junior staff member pours a drink anyway — that is how much the phrase actually changes. Note that the boss is addressed by title alone, 部長, with no さん.
5. manager

   ありがとう。そういえば、この後あと二次会にじかい行いく？

   Thanks. Oh, by the way, you wanna go for round two after this?

   **Note the register gap**: the department head says 「行く？」 (plain form) to the subordinate, yet the subordinate still replies in polite form — this up-down asymmetry is the norm in Japanese workplaces, not anyone being rude. 「二次会」= moving on to another place to keep drinking.
6. Subordinate

   すみません、明日あした早はやいので、今日きょうはこれで。

   Sorry, I've got an early morning tomorrow, so this is it for me tonight.

   The standard formula for politely declining the after-party: a reason + 「今日はこれで」, leaving the second half unfinished; no need to explain that you don't want to go, and no need to apologize too much.
7. manager

   そっか。お疲つかれ様さま。また明日あした。

   Oh, right. Good work today. See you tomorrow.

   お疲れ様 also works as the goodbye when the drinking party wraps up — it's used exactly the same way as in the office (see the "Workplace daily life" page).