祝你好运
zhù nǐ hǎo yùn
The Chinese phrase for "wish you good luck" is 祝你好运 (zhù nǐ hǎo yùn).
祝你好运 is used to express a hope for success or good fortune in a specific upcoming event, such as a competition or an exam. While it is a direct translation of the English phrase, Chinese speakers often choose more specific auspicious idioms depending on the exact context of the luck being wished.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 祝 (wish), 你 (you), 好 (good) and 运 (luck/fortune).
Which one should you use?
While 祝你好运 is a direct way to wish someone luck, you might use other phrases for different nuances. For example, 祝你一切顺利 means "wish you smooth sailing in everything," and 愿你事事如意 conveys the hope that everything goes exactly as the person intends.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Cantonese, one way to say "wish you good luck" is 祝你好運.
How does it change in a sentence?
To make the phrase more polite and respectful when addressing elders or superiors, you should replace 你 (nǐ) with the polite form 您 (nín) to say 祝您好运. Additionally, if you are specifically wishing someone good luck on an exam, you can use the phrase 考试顺利.
How do you pronounce it?
zhù nǐ hǎo yùn
Did you know?
- In many regions, instead of saying 'good luck' before a performance, people say 加油, which literally means 'add oil'. This is the standard way to cheer someone on and wish them success through effort.
- While 祝你好运 is a direct translation, the word 运 refers to the movement of energy or fate. In traditional Chinese cosmology, this is linked to the orbit of stars and the cyclical nature of the universe.
- When wishing luck for business or wealth, people rarely use 好运 and instead prefer to wish someone 发财, which means 'to get rich'. In many Chinese contexts, prosperity is a much more practical and common wish than abstract 'luck'.
Examples in context
- 祝你好运。I wish you good luck.This sentence is useful for practicing the phrase 祝你好运.Tatoeba #812490 by fucongcong, translation #54468 by CK
- 祝你好运，考试顺利。Zhù nǐ hǎo yùn, kǎoshì shùnlì.Wish you good luck, and hope your exam goes well.
Example conversation
Jiayi is seeing Zhiqiang off before his big competition.
- 佳怡 Jiayi志强，祝你好运！Zhìqiáng, zhù nǐ hǎo yùn!Zhiqiang, wish you good luck!
- 志强 Zhiqiang谢谢你，佳怡。Xièxiè nǐ, Jiāyí.Thank you, Jiayi.
- 佳怡 Jiayi一定要加油啊。Yīdìng yào jiāyóu a.You must do your best.
- 志强 Zhiqiang我会努力的。Wǒ huì nǔlì de.I will work hard.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
