jièjiǔ: 戒酒 - To Quit Drinking (Alcohol), To Abstain from Alcohol, Sobriety

• Keywords: jiejiu, 戒酒, quit drinking Chinese, stop drinking alcohol in Chinese, abstain from alcohol, sobriety in Chinese, Chinese drinking culture, how to say quit drinking in Mandarin, give up alcohol.
• Summary: Learn how to say “quit drinking” or “abstain from alcohol” in Chinese with the term 戒酒 (jièjiǔ). This comprehensive guide explores the meaning, cultural significance within Chinese drinking culture, and practical usage of 戒酒. Discover how to express sobriety in Mandarin, from making a personal resolution to discussing health reasons for quitting alcohol, and understand why this decision can be more significant in China than in the West.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): jièjiǔ
• Part of Speech: Verb-object phrase (functions as a verb)
• HSK Level: HSK 4
• Concise Definition: To abstain from or quit drinking alcoholic beverages.
• In a Nutshell: 戒酒 (jièjiǔ) is the direct and intentional act of giving up alcohol. The character `戒 (jiè)` implies breaking a habit or adhering to a rule, while `酒 (jiǔ)` means alcohol. Together, the term signifies a firm decision to stop drinking, usually for the long term, often due to health, family, or personal discipline. It's a stronger and more permanent statement than simply saying “I'm not drinking tonight.”

• 戒 (jiè): This character means “to guard against,” “to give up (a bad habit),” or a “precept/vow.” It's composed of `戈 (gē)`, a halberd or weapon, and `廾 (gǒng)`, representing two hands. You can picture it as “using a weapon to guard a boundary” or “holding fast to a rule,” which perfectly captures the idea of self-control and prohibition.
• 酒 (jiǔ): This character means “alcohol” or “liquor.” The left side is the “three drops of water” radical `氵(shuǐ)`, indicating it's a liquid. The right side `酉 (yǒu)` is an ancient pictograph of a wine jar. Together, they literally mean “liquid from a wine jar.”

Combining them, 戒酒 (jièjiǔ) literally translates to “guard against alcohol” or “vow to stop alcohol,” creating the clear meaning of quitting drinking.

In China, the decision to 戒酒 carries significant social weight due to the pervasive “drinking table culture” (酒桌文化 - jiǔzhuō wénhuà). Alcohol, particularly baijiu (白酒), is often central to business negotiations, social gatherings, and relationship-building (关系 - guānxi). Toasts are a structured way of showing respect, and one's drinking capacity (酒量 - jiǔliàng) can be seen as a measure of sincerity or manliness. Therefore, announcing you are 戒酒 is not just a personal choice; it can be interpreted as a withdrawal from these important social rituals. While in Western cultures saying “I don't drink” is a common and easily accepted statement, in China it can sometimes require a more serious justification to avoid causing offense, especially in a business setting. The most accepted reasons are health-related, such as a doctor's explicit orders (医生说我必须戒酒 - The doctor said I must quit drinking). The decision is often seen as an act of great self-discipline and commitment to health or family, reflecting the value of well-being and responsibility.

戒酒 is a common term used in various contexts, from casual conversation to serious medical discussions.

• Health-Related Decisions: This is the most common and socially acceptable reason. People often 戒酒 after a health scare or on a doctor's advice to manage conditions like high blood pressure or liver problems.
• Personal Resolutions: It's frequently used when someone makes a lifestyle change, similar to a New Year's resolution. It implies a long-term commitment.
• Social Refusal: While it can be used to refuse a drink at a banquet, it implies a permanent state. Using it suggests you have completely stopped drinking, not just for the evening. If you just don't want to drink on a particular occasion, it's better to say “我今天不喝酒” (wǒ jīntiān bù hējiǔ).

The term is neutral in connotation but the act itself is generally viewed positively as a sign of self-control and responsibility. It is used in both formal and informal settings.

• Example 1:
  • 为了健康，他决定戒酒。
  • Pinyin: Wèile jiànkāng, tā juédìng jièjiǔ.
  • English: For the sake of his health, he decided to quit drinking.
  • Analysis: This is a classic and very common reason given for 戒酒. The phrase `为了 (wèile)…` means “for the purpose of…” or “for the sake of…”.
• Example 2:
  • 医生告诉他必须马上戒酒。
  • Pinyin: Yīshēng gàosù tā bìxū mǎshàng jièjiǔ.
  • English: The doctor told him he must quit drinking immediately.
  • Analysis: This sentence highlights the authority and seriousness behind the decision. `必须 (bìxū)` means “must,” and `马上 (mǎshàng)` means “immediately,” adding urgency.
• Example 3:
  • 我爸爸戒酒已经五年了。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ bàba jièjiǔ yǐjīng wǔ nián le.
  • English: My dad has been sober for five years already.
  • Analysis: This structure `(action) + 已经 (yǐjīng) + (time duration) + 了 (le)` is used to state how long an action has been ongoing or how long it has been since an action was completed.
• Example 4:
  • 戒酒之后，我的身体好多了。
  • Pinyin: Jièjiǔ zhīhòu, wǒ de shēntǐ hǎo duō le.
  • English: After I quit drinking, my health got much better.
  • Analysis: `之后 (zhīhòu)` is a common way to say “after,” connecting the cause (戒酒) with the effect (身体好多了 - health got much better).
• Example 5:
  • 你为什么突然想戒酒了？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ wèishéme tūrán xiǎng jièjiǔ le?
  • English: Why did you suddenly want to quit drinking?
  • Analysis: A natural question to ask a friend. `突然 (tūrán)` means “suddenly,” implying the decision was unexpected.
• Example 6:
  • 他试了好几次戒酒，但都没有成功。
  • Pinyin: Tā shìle hǎo jǐ cì jièjiǔ, dàn dōu méiyǒu chénggōng.
  • English: He tried to quit drinking several times, but never succeeded.
  • Analysis: This sentence shows the difficulty of the process. `好几次 (hǎo jǐ cì)` means “quite a few times,” and `但都 (dàn dōu)…` emphasizes that none of the attempts were successful.
• Example 7:
  • 从今天起，我戒酒了！谁也别劝我！
  • Pinyin: Cóng jīntiān qǐ, wǒ jièjiǔ le! Shéi yě bié quàn wǒ!
  • English: Starting today, I'm quitting drinking! Nobody try to persuade me!
  • Analysis: A strong, declarative statement. `从…起 (cóng…qǐ)` means “starting from…” and `别劝我 (bié quàn wǒ)` is a command: “don't persuade me,” often used to fend off the social pressure of `劝酒 (quànjiǔ)`.
• Example 8:
  • 他不仅戒酒了，还把烟也戒了。
  • Pinyin: Tā bùjǐn jièjiǔ le, hái bǎ yān yě jiè le.
  • English: Not only did he quit drinking, he also quit smoking.
  • Analysis: The `不仅…还… (bùjǐn…hái…)` structure means “not only… but also…” It's perfect for talking about quitting multiple habits. Notice `戒烟 (jièyān)` is “to quit smoking.”
• Example 9:
  • 对不起大家，我最近在戒酒，今天只能以茶代酒了。
  • Pinyin: Duìbùqǐ dàjiā, wǒ zuìjìn zài jièjiǔ, jīntiān zhǐ néng yǐ chá dài jiǔ le.
  • English: Sorry everyone, I'm in the process of quitting drinking recently, so today I can only substitute tea for alcohol.
  • Analysis: A polite and effective way to decline alcohol at a social gathering. `以茶代酒 (yǐ chá dài jiǔ)` is a classic set phrase meaning “to use tea in place of alcohol,” showing respect while abstaining.
• Example 10:
  • 戒酒最大的好处是头脑清醒了很多。
  • Pinyin: Jièjiǔ zuìdà de hǎochù shì tóunǎo qīngxǐng le hěn duō.
  • English: The biggest benefit of quitting drinking is that my mind is much clearer.
  • Analysis: `最大的好处是… (zuìdà de hǎochù shì…)` means “The biggest benefit is…”. `头脑清醒 (tóunǎo qīngxǐng)` means “clear-headed.”

• Permanent vs. Temporary: The most common mistake for learners is using 戒酒 to mean “I'm not drinking tonight.” 戒酒 implies a long-term, ongoing, or permanent state of abstention. If you are just refusing a drink for one specific occasion, you should say something else.
  • Correct (Temporary): 我今天开车，不能喝酒。(Wǒ jīntiān kāichē, bùnéng hējiǔ.) - “I'm driving today, so I can't drink.”
  • Correct (Permanent): 我已经戒酒了。(Wǒ yǐjīng jièjiǔ le.) - “I have already quit drinking.”
  • Incorrect: At a dinner party, someone offers you a beer and you say: 我戒酒。(Wǒ jièjiǔ.) This sounds very abrupt and overly serious, as if you are announcing a major life decision, when you just mean you don't want a drink right now.
• Action vs. State: 戒酒 is the act of quitting. The state of being sober or abstinent doesn't have a single, direct equivalent to the English word “sobriety” as an abstract noun. Instead, you would describe the situation, e.g., “他戒酒五年了” (He has been sober for five years).

• 喝酒 (hējiǔ): To drink alcohol. This is the direct action that one stops when they 戒酒.
• 戒烟 (jièyān): To quit smoking. A very common parallel concept, as smoking and drinking are often discussed together as habits to be quit.
• 酒鬼 (jiǔguǐ): Lit. “alcohol ghost.” An alcoholic or a drunkard. The type of person who is often advised to 戒酒.
• 酒量 (jiǔliàng): Alcohol tolerance/capacity. A key concept in Chinese drinking culture; having a high `酒量` is often seen as a social advantage.
• 劝酒 (quànjiǔ): To urge or pressure someone to drink. This social act is a major reason why 戒酒 can be difficult in China.
• 酒桌文化 (jiǔzhuō wénhuà): “Drinking table culture.” The set of social norms and rituals surrounding drinking at banquets and business meals, which provides the context for 戒酒.
• 养生 (yǎngshēng): To nurture one's health; to live a healthy lifestyle. This is a primary motivation for many people to 戒酒.
• 忌口 (jìkǒu): To abstain from certain foods (due to medical, religious, or personal reasons). A similar concept of abstention, but usually applied to food.