What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally breaks down into 祝 (wish), 你 (you), 一切 (everything) and 顺利 (smoothly/successfully).
Which one should you use?
While 祝你一切顺利 is a general wish for success in everything, another formal option is 祝你万事如意, which means "wish you everything goes well" and is often used for special occasions like birthdays or weddings. For a shorter, informal way to say "wish you smooth and successful," you can use 祝你顺利.
How does it change in a sentence?
You can adjust the phrase to fit the person or people you are addressing. To make the phrase more respectful when addressing elders, superiors or clients, replace 你 (nǐ) with the polite form 您 (nín) to get 祝您一切顺利. To address a group of people instead of an individual, change 你 (nǐ) to 你们 (nǐmen) to get 祝你们一切顺利.
How do you pronounce it?
zhù nǐ yíqiè shùnlì
Did you know?
- When using the formal version 祝你万事如意, the word 万 (wàn) literally means 'ten thousand'. It implies you are wishing the person success in ten thousand different matters.
- The character 祝 (wish) can also be used as a verb meaning 'to pray' or 'to bless'. In ancient contexts, this word was associated with offering sacrifices to deities to ensure a positive outcome.
- While English speakers say 'all the best', Chinese speakers often focus on the 'smoothness' (顺利) of the path. This reflects a cultural preference for avoiding obstacles rather than just achieving a goal.
Examples in context
- 明天是你的生日，祝你一切顺利！Tomorrow is your birthday, I wish you all the best!
- 祝你一切顺利。Zhù nǐ yīqiè shùnlì.Wish you all the best.
- 祝你一切顺利，工作愉快。Zhù nǐ yīqiè shùnlì, gōngzuò yúkuài.Wish you all the best and a happy work life.
- 祝你一切顺利，身体健康。Zhù nǐ yīqiè shùnlì, shēntǐ jiànkāng.Wish you all the best and good health.
Example conversation
Wei is seeing Xiaowen off at the airport for her new job abroad.
- 伟 Wei晓雯，祝你一切顺利。Xiǎowén, zhù nǐ yīqiè shùnlì.Xiaowen, wish you all the best.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen谢谢你，伟。Xièxiè nǐ, Wěi.Thank you, Wei.
- 伟 Wei到了记得给我发消息。Dàole jìde gěi wǒ fā xiāoxī.Remember to message me when you arrive.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen一定会的，再见。Yīdìng huì de, zàijiàn.I definitely will, goodbye.
