幸運な人
kōunna hito
The English phrase 'lucky person' can be translated into Japanese as 幸運な人 (kōunna hito).
The term is used to describe someone who is fortunate or has good luck.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase 幸運な人 is composed of 幸運 (kōun), meaning 'good luck', the particle な (na) which turns the noun into an adjective and 人 (hito), meaning 'person'.
Which one should you use?
While 幸運な人 is more formal or literary, the katakana loanword ラッキーな人 is very common in casual, everyday conversation. Another common alternative is 運がいい人, which literally translates to 'a person for whom luck is good'.
How does it change in a sentence?
Because 幸運 is a na-adjective, you must include な between the adjective and the noun 人.
How do you pronounce it?
kōunna hito
Did you know?
- The concept of luck in Japanese is often tied to the kanji 運 (un), which is the same character used in the word for 'transportation' or 'delivery'.
- Japanese has a specific term 強運 (kyōun) for a 'strong luck' person. This describes someone who survives near-fatal accidents or impossible odds, rather than someone who just wins a lottery.
- To describe a person with extraordinary luck, Japanese people use the phrase 強運の持ち主 (kyōun no mochinushi), which treats luck as a physical possession one can own.
Examples in context
- 彼は毎回宝くじで大当たりを引く人です。(かれはまいかいたからでおおあたりをひくひとです。)He is a person who always hits the jackpot in the lottery.
- 彼女はとても幸運な人です。(かのじょはとてもこううんなひとです。)She is a very lucky person.
- あの人はいつも運の良い人ですね。(あのひとはいつもうんのよいひとですね。)That person is always so lucky.
- 彼は本当にラッキーな人だよ。(かれはほんとうにらっきーなひとだよ。)He's really a lucky person, you know.
- 彼女は本当に幸せ者だと思うよ。(かのじょはほんとうにしあわせものだとおもうよ。)I think she's truly a lucky person.
- 彼は本当に幸運な人ですね。Kare wa hontou ni kouun na hito desu ne.He is a truly lucky person, isn't he?
- 幸運な人は、いつも笑顔です。Kouun na hito wa, itsumo egao desu.A lucky person always has a smile.
- 君はとても幸運な人だよ。Kimi wa totemo kouun na hito da yo.You are a very lucky person.
Example conversation
Kenta and Himari are talking about a friend who won a prize.
- 健太 Kenta彼が賞を取ったね。幸運な人だね。Kare ga shō o totta ne. Kōun na hito da ne.He won the prize. He is a lucky person, isn't he?
- 陽葵 Himari本当にそうね。羨ましいわ。Hontō ni sō ne. Urayamashii wa.He really is. I'm jealous.
- 健太 Kenta僕もあんな幸運な人になりたいよ。Boku mo anna kōun na hito ni naritai yo.I want to be a lucky person like that too.
- 陽葵 Himariきっと健太さんもそうなるよ。Kitto Kenta-san mo sō naru yo.I'm sure you will be too, Kenta.
