好运
hǎo yùn
Good fortune · trad. 好運
好运 (hǎoyùn) refers to good luck or good fortune. It's commonly used to describe a fortunate situation or to wish someone well.
What does 好运 (hǎo yùn) mean?
好运 (hǎo yùn) means “good fortune” in English. Word for word, it breaks down as “good luck.”
When to use it
Neutral. It's often used in the phrase 祝你好运 (zhù nǐ hǎoyùn), meaning "wish you good luck/fortune." For a more profound sense of blessings or inherent good fortune, especially regarding one's life circumstances, 福气 (fúqi) is often used. For "great fortune," especially in a more formal or literary context, you might hear 鸿运 (hóngyùn).
How to pronounce it
Sounds like "how-YOON." Both characters are originally third tones, so the first "好" changes to a rising tone, making it sound like "háo yùn."
Other ways to say it
- 祝你好运zhù nǐ hǎo yùnwish you good fortune / good luck
- 福气fúqiblessings / good fortune (often inherent)
- 鸿运hóng yùngreat fortune (formal/literary)
Examples
祝你考试好运！
zhù nǐ kǎoshì hǎo yùn!
Good luck with your exam!
他最近总是遇到好运。
tā zuìjìn zǒngshì yùdào hǎo yùn.
He always encounters good fortune recently.
真是个有福气的人啊！
zhēnshì ge yǒu fúqi de rén a!
What a fortunate person!
Pro tip: Remember the tone change for 好运: when two third tones appear together, the first one changes to a second (rising) tone. So, it's pronounced "háo yùn," not "hǎo yùn."
Related phrases
祝福你 · Bless you生日祝福 · Birthday wishes生日愿望 · Birthday wish
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