What does it mean word for word?
This phrase is composed of the noun 幸運 (good fortune), the object marker を and the verb 祈ります, which means "to pray" or "to wish".
Which one should you use?
While 幸運を祈ります is a polite way to express well-wishes, you can use the dictionary form 幸運を祈る to make the phrase informal and suitable for friends or peers.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
幸運を祈ります is a polite and formal way to express well-wishes, making it suitable for writing or speaking to someone you are not close with. For a more casual approach to encouraging someone to do their best, you might use 頑張って (Good luck! / Do your best!) or the friendly がんばってね (casual and friendly encouragement).
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase follows a structure where 幸運 is the noun, を acts as the object marker and 祈ります is the verb.
How do you pronounce it?
kōun o配置 inorimasu
Did you know?
- In Japan, instead of wishing someone 'luck', it is much more common to wish them 'endurance'. The word 頑張って comes from a concept of 'doing one's best' through persistent effort rather than relying on fortune.
- Using 幸運を祈ります can sometimes feel overly dramatic or cinematic to Japanese speakers. It is often associated with farewells in movies or novels rather than everyday casual conversation.
- The word 幸運 (good fortune) is often associated with external, almost magical forces. Because of this, using it to congratulate someone on a skill might feel slightly odd, as it attributes their success to luck rather than ability.
Examples in context
- 幸運を祈ります。I wish you the best of luck.This sentence is useful for expressing "I wish you the best of luck."Tatoeba #173662 by bunbuku, translation #240806 by CK
- がんばってください!Ganbatte kudasai!
- 幸運を祈りますKōun o inorimasu
- 頑張って!Ganbatte!
- がんばってね!Ganbatte ne!
Example conversation
Kenta and Himari are talking before Himari's job interview.
- 健太 Kenta面接、頑張ってくださいね。Mensetsu, ganbatte kudasai ne.Good luck with your interview.
- 陽葵 Himariありがとうございます。緊張しています。Arigatō gozaimasu. Kinchō shite imasu.Thank you. I am nervous.
- 健太 Kenta大丈夫です。幸運を祈ります。Daijōbu desu. Kōun o inorimasu.You'll be fine. Best of luck.
- 陽葵 Himari行ってきます！Itte kimasu!I'm off now!
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
