Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 頑張って！ | ganbatte! | ||
| がんばれ！ | ganbare! | ||
| 健闘を祈る | kentō o inoru | [kẽ̞nto̞ː o̞ ino̞ɾɯ̟] (narrow) | |
| 幸運を | kōun o | ||
| 頑張ってください | ganbatte kudasai! | formal |
In Japanese, "good luck" is most frequently expressed as an encouragement to work hard, such as telling someone to "do your best," rather than a wish for luck itself. While 幸運を is a literal translation of "good luck" (wishing for fortune), it sounds more dramatic or formal than the common 頑張って.
Which one should you use?
The forms vary based on the specific intent of the speaker. 頑張って！ is used like "do your best" or "keep at it." In contrast, がんばれ！ is a more forceful, imperative command often used by spectators or coaches to cheer someone on. While 頑張って！ focuses on effort, 幸運を is a literal translation used to wish for actual fortune.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
There are several levels of politeness depending on who you are addressing. がんばって is the casual version of "ganbatte kudasai." For superiors or strangers, use the polite version 頑張ってください, which means "please do your best." In very formal written contexts or speeches, specifically to wish someone success in a competition or challenge, you can use 健闘を祈る. For a dramatic or formal way to wish for fortune, 幸運を is also an option.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
健闘を祈る is a formal expression used to say "I pray for your success/struggle."
How do you pronounce it?
ganbatte!
Did you know?
- While 頑張って is a common way to say 'good luck', saying it to someone who is already exhausted or grieving can be seen as insensitive because it pressures them to endure more effort.
- When someone says 頑張ってください to you, a common response is 頑張ります, meaning 'I will do my best', rather than a simple 'thank you'.
- The word 健闘 in the formal phrase 健闘を祈る contains the character for 'health' or 'robustness'. It implies that you are wishing for someone to fight or compete with a strong and healthy spirit.
Examples in context
- 幸運を祈るよ。Good luck!This sentence uses 幸運を.Tatoeba #173663 by KK_kaku_, translation #429220 by Clavain
- 幸運をお祈りいたします。I wish you good luck.Tatoeba #2432350 by bunbuku, translation #54468 by CK
- 若林様、ご成功をお祈りします。Mr./Ms. Wakabayashi, I pray for your success.
- 明日のテスト、頑張って！Ashita no tesuto, ganbatte!Good luck on your test tomorrow!
Example conversation
A student is about to start a big match.
- 陽葵 Himari大翔くん、試合、頑張って！Hiroto-kun, shiai, ganbatte!Hiroto, good luck with your match!
- 大翔 Hirotoありがとう、陽葵ちゃん。Arigatou, Himari-chan.Thank you, Himari.
- 陽葵 Himari応援しているよ！Oen shite iru yo!I'm rooting for you!
- 大翔 Hiroto全力でやってくるよ。Zenryoku de yatte kuru yo.I'll give it my all.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “good luck” translations and entries 健闘を祈る, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 健闘を祈る, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
