What does it mean word for word?
The phrase consists of two main components: ご健闘 (gokentō), which literally refers to your vigorous struggle or effort in a contest or challenge and ご多幸 (gotakō), which literally means "much happiness" and is used to wish someone a blessed life.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The form ご健闘とご多幸をお祈り申し上げます is extremely formal and is suitable for written correspondence such as business letters or official congratulatory messages. For a slightly less formal but still polite way to say "I wish you success," you can use ご成功をお祈りします. If you are speaking in a casual setting, you should use がんばってね or 頑張ってね to mean "good luck" or "do your best." A common way to say "good luck" or "do your best" in a standard formal way is がんばってください.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Kansai region, you may encounter the variation がんばってや.
How do you pronounce it?
gokentō to gotakō o oinori mōshiagemasu
Did you know?
- If you use the phrase がんばって (ganbatte) in a professional context to a superior, it can actually sound condescending. Because it implies you are encouraging them to 'do their best', it can inadvertently suggest they are not currently working hard enough.
- While がんばって is the common way to say 'good luck', using it with someone who is already exhausted or struggling can sometimes be perceived as adding pressure rather than providing support.
- While English speakers use 'best wishes' for many occasions, the specific component ご多幸 (gotakō) is almost exclusively reserved for major life milestones like marriage or new business ventures. It is far too heavy for casual social greetings.
Examples in context
- 皆様のご健闘とご多幸をお祈り申し上げます。Minasama no gokentou to gotakou o oinori moushiagemasu.I wish you all good luck and best wishes.
- 新生活におけるご健闘とご多幸をお祈り申し上げます。Shinseikatsu ni okeru gokentou to gotakou o oinori moushiagemasu.I wish you good luck and best wishes in your new life.
- 今後のご健闘とご多幸をお祈り申し上げます。Kongo no gokentou to gotakou o oinori moushiagemasu.I wish you good luck and best wishes for the future.
Example conversation
A formal farewell ceremony at a company for a colleague's promotion.
- 美咲 Misaki陽太さんのご健闘とご多幸をお祈り申し上げます。Youta-san no gokentou to gotakou o oinori moushiagemasu.I wish you good luck and best wishes, Youta.
- 陽太 Yota美咲さん、温かいお言葉をありがとうございます。Misaki-san, atatakai okotoba o arigatou gozaimasu.Thank you for your kind words, Misaki.
- 美咲 Misaki新天地でも頑張ってくださいね。Shintentchi demo ganbatte kudasai ne.Please do your best in your new environment.
- 陽太 Yotaはい、精一杯努めます。Hai, seiippai tsutomemasu.Yes, I will do my absolute best.
