How to say good luck in Chinese
"Good luck" in Chinese is 祝你好运 (zhù nǐ hǎo yùn). It is built from "wish you good luck". Before an exam, interview or match, Chinese speakers usually cheer 加油 rather than 祝你好运, which is a wish and sounds closer to the English.
Ways to say good luck
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| 祝你好运 | zhù nǐ hǎo yùn | good luck | The default answer. |
| 加油 | jiā yóu | go for it, you can do it | Cheering someone's effort: exams, sports, work, hard times |
| 祝你考试顺利 | zhù nǐ kǎo shì shùn lì | good luck in your exam | Before exams; swap in 面试 for an interview |
| 一切顺利 | yī qiè shùn lì | hope everything goes well | New jobs, trips, moves and new beginnings |
| 祝你成功 | zhù nǐ chéng gōng | I wish you success | Encouraging someone starting a project, business or challenge |
What people say back
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 谢谢 | xiè xie | thank you |
| 我会加油的 | wǒ huì jiā yóu de | I'll do my best |
| 借你吉言 | jiè nǐ jí yán | thanks, here's hoping you're right |
Example sentences
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 明天面试，加油！ | míng tiān miàn shì, jiā yóu! | Your interview's tomorrow. You've got this! |
| 祝你考试顺利！ | zhù nǐ kǎo shì shùn lì! | Good luck in your exam! |
| 中国队，加油！ | zhōng guó duì, jiā yóu! | Come on, China! |
| 听说你要去上海工作了，祝你一切顺利！ | tīng shuō nǐ yào qù shàng hǎi gōng zuò le, zhù nǐ yī qiè shùn lì! | I hear you're moving to Shanghai for work. All the best! |
| 祝你好运，希望你能抽中大奖。 | zhù nǐ hǎo yùn, xī wàng nǐ néng chōu zhòng dà jiǎng. | Good luck, I hope you win the big prize. |
The characters in 祝你好运
Common mistakes
- 加油 literally means "add fuel". It cheers effort rather than wishing luck, and it is said to friends, teams and even to yourself.
- 一 in 一切 is said yí before the fourth tone of 切. Dictionaries, and the tables on this site, write it yī.
- 中 in 抽中 is zhòng (to hit, win), not zhōng.
Related
- Happy birthday in Chinese: 生日快乐
- Goodbye in Chinese: 再见
- Thank you in Chinese: 谢谢
- Polite phrases in Chinese: 不客气
- All phrases and words
Frequently asked questions
How do you say good luck in Chinese?
祝你好运 (zhù nǐ hǎo yùn), literally "wish you good luck". Other ways: 加油 (jiā yóu); 祝你考试顺利 (zhù nǐ kǎo shì shùn lì); 一切顺利 (yī qiè shùn lì).
What does 加油 mean?
加油 (jiā yóu) literally means "add fuel" and is used like "go for it!" or "you can do it!" to encourage someone.
How do you say good luck on your exam in Chinese?
Say 祝你考试顺利 (zhù nǐ kǎo shì shùn lì), or simply 加油 (jiā yóu).
How do you say good luck with your new job in Chinese?
Say 祝你工作顺利 (zhù nǐ gōng zuò shùn lì) or 祝你一切顺利 (zhù nǐ yī qiè shùn lì).
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