How to Play the APT. Drinking Game (Apateu):
Rules & Tips
The APT. game is a Korean drinking game where everyone piles their hands in the middle of the table, one player calls out a number, and the bottom hand keeps moving to the top while the group counts. Whoever puts a hand on top when the count reaches that number loses. It is the game that gave its name to APT., the song by ROSÉ and Bruno Mars released in October 2024. And despite the name “drinking game”, the penalty does not have to be a drink.
I am Korean, and I run three Korean bars in Higashi-Shinsaibashi, Osaka. Since the song came out, plenty of guests know the chorus but have never actually played the game behind it. So this page covers only APT.: the steps, a worked example, the mistakes everyone makes in the first round, and how to set a penalty that keeps it fun for the whole table.
.webp)
What does APT. mean, and how is the song connected?
APT. is short for apartment. In Korean the word is 아파트, romanised as apateu. The game is simply called “apateu” in Korea, and the song took its title from it.
- The song: APT. by ROSÉ and Bruno Mars came out on 18 October 2024, as the lead single from ROSÉ’s first solo full-length album, rosie.
- The chorus: the repeated “apateu, apateu” you hear in the chorus is the same chant players use to start a round.
- How it started: ROSÉ has said that she taught the game to the people she was working with in the studio, and that the song grew out of that.
How to say “apateu”
Say it in three short, even beats: ah-pah-teu. The last syllable is a soft “teu”, close to “tuh”, not “tee” or “two”. It is the English word “apartment” as Koreans adopted it, cut down to the first part. You will often hear the group say it twice, to the rhythm of the song.
How to play the APT. game: step by step
This is the common way to play. Rules differ a little from group to group, so agree on the details before the first round.
- Sit in a circle. You need at least two people; the more players, the livelier it gets.
- Chant together. Everyone says “apateu, apateu” (아파트, 아파트) in unison, usually to the beat of the song.
- The starter calls a number. When the chant ends, the player starting the round (the leader) says any number they like.
- Stack your hands. Everyone puts both hands in the middle of the table, palms down, piling them so that different people’s hands alternate.
- Move the bottom hand to the top, and count. The person whose hand is at the very bottom pulls it out, places it on top and says “one” (in Korean, il, 일). The owner of the new bottom hand moves it to the top and says “two” (i, 이), and so on.
- The number decides the loser. Whoever puts a hand on top when the count reaches the leader’s number loses the round and takes the penalty.
A worked example: three players, the leader calls “5”
Say three friends, A, B and C, play one round. From the bottom up, the stack starts as A, B, C, A, B, C (each person has two hands in the pile). Here is what happens as the count goes up.
| Count | Hand that moves to the top | Stack afterwards (bottom → top) |
|---|---|---|
| Start | — | A, B, C, A, B, C |
| 1 | A’s first hand | B, C, A, B, C, A |
| 2 | B’s first hand | C, A, B, C, A, B |
| 3 | C’s first hand | A, B, C, A, B, C |
| 4 | A’s second hand | B, C, A, B, C, A |
| 5 | B’s second hand | B lands on top at 5, so B loses this round |
Because the hands alternate, the turn passes around the circle in the same order every time. Sharp players try to work out who will be on top at the called number before the counting even starts.
Variations you may come across
- Some groups play so that the loser becomes the next leader and calls the next number.
- Some groups also count it as a loss if someone says the wrong number or moves out of turn.
- Some groups count in Korean, others in English or Japanese. Any language works, as long as everyone uses the same one.
Common mistakes, and tips for your first round
| Mistake | What to do instead |
|---|---|
| Saying the number before the hand lands | The count belongs to the hand that has just been placed on top. Put it down, then say the number |
| Moving both hands at once | One hand at a time, and only the hand at the bottom |
| Calling a huge number | A big number makes the round drag on. Keep it modest so the rounds stay quick |
| Playing around glasses and bottles | Clear a space in the middle of the table before you start |
| Slapping hands down hard | Place your hand, do not smack it. Watch out for rings and watches, too |
The first round is usually slow while everyone works out whose hand is at the bottom. After that, the chant, the counting and the laughter speed up on their own.
Do I have to drink? Penalties and drinking safely
No. The penalty can be anything the group agrees on. If someone does not want to drink, they do not have to. Some penalties that do not involve alcohol:
- Introduce yourself in one sentence.
- Name your favourite song.
- Pull a funny face.
- Become the leader and call the next number.
Three rules for any drinking game
- Never force anyone to chug, and never pressure anyone to drink. A “no” is a complete answer.
- In Japan, nobody under 20 may drink alcohol. That is the law, whatever the drinking age is back home.
- Know when to stop, and if you have been drinking, do not drive.
For more on how Koreans pour, toast and look after each other at the table, see Korean drinking etiquette. Looking for other games to play next, like 369 or Bunny Bunny? They are explained in Korean drinking games.
Where to play it in Osaka
Our three bars are all in Higashi-Shinsaibashi, Osaka: bars with Korean staff, K-pop playing and Korean drinks. You are welcome to play APT. at your table; if you are not sure of the rules, try asking our Korean staff. Please keep your voices at a level that does not bother other guests. All three are bars, not Korean restaurants, and do not serve food. Each is rated 4.9 on Google Maps: HEAVEN with 2,844 reviews, 韓国バーMOON with 380 and SARANG with 678 (as of September 2026).
| Bar | Best for | What it is like |
|---|---|---|
| HEAVEN | Singing and games with a group | Free karaoke and darts, plus a VIP room. Smoking allowed |
| 韓国バーMOON | Sitting down to talk | Shisha and lounge seats. Smoking allowed |
| SARANG | A quiet drink, even alone | A quiet, fully non-smoking bar with no karaoke and mostly counter seats; easy to come alone |
- Open every day from 21:00 to 05:00, no closing day, no reservation needed. Questions before you come? Ask the bar by phone or Instagram DM.
- Credit cards and cash are both accepted.
- HEAVEN and 韓国バーMOON allow smoking inside; SARANG is fully non-smoking.
- Guests under 20 cannot enter. If you have been drinking, do not drive.
Want K-pop with your drinks? See K-pop bars in Osaka, or for singing, karaoke bars in Osaka. Not sure which of the three suits you? See the quick guide by purpose.
HEAVEN
Free karaoke and darts, plus a VIP room, for a lively night of singing and games with friends.
5F Galaxy Building No.3, 2-4-19 Higashi-Shinsaibashi, Chuo-ku, Osaka
Open in Google MapsMOON
A Korean bar with shisha and lounge seats, for sitting down and talking over a drink.
3F LUXE Building Naka Room, 2-8-6 Higashi-Shinsaibashi, Chuo-ku, Osaka
Open in Google MapsSARANG
Fully non-smoking. A quiet bar with no karaoke and mostly counter seats, easy to visit alone.
Room 206, Gold Center Building, 2-8-12 Higashi-Shinsaibashi, Chuo-ku, Osaka
Open in Google Maps.png)
FAQ
Q. What does APT. mean?
It is short for apartment, 아파트 in Korean, pronounced “ah-pah-teu”. It is the name of the drinking game, and ROSÉ and Bruno Mars used it as the title of their 2024 song.
Q. How many people do you need?
At least two. The more people at the table, the livelier it gets.
Q. Does the loser have to drink?
No. The group can pick a penalty without alcohol, such as a one-line self-introduction, naming a favourite song or pulling a funny face. Nobody should be forced to drink.
Q. Are there official rules?
No. The basic flow is the same everywhere, but details differ from group to group, for example whether the loser becomes the next leader. Agree on them before you start.
Q. Can I play it without speaking Korean?
Yes. The only Korean you need is the chant, “apateu, apateu”. You can count in English, Japanese or any language the whole table shares.
Q. Can we play it at your bars?
Yes, at any of our three bars. Please keep your voices at a level that does not disturb the other guests.
Q. Do I need a reservation?
No reservation is needed. All three bars are open every day from 21:00 to 05:00.
Q. Do your Korean bars serve food?
No. All three are bars, not Korean restaurants, and do not serve food.
Sources (checked on 16 October 2026): the release date of APT. and the origin of its title are based on music news reports. The game rules describe a common way to play and differ from group to group. Information about our bars is from Google Maps (as of September 2026).