Good Luck in Chinese: 34 Essential Phrases for Every Occasion
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There are dozens of ways to wish someone luck in Mandarin, and the best choice depends on the occasion. I’ll start with the everyday basics, then move into phrases for exams, work, weddings, birthdays, and travel.
This guide focuses on standard Mandarin and includes 34 expressions for different situations. You’ll also meet several 成语 / 成語 (chéngyǔ), or set idioms, many of them four characters long. Having studied Chinese at university and then worked in Taiwan, I can tell you these phrases do come in handy.
You’ll see simplified and traditional characters where they differ, plus pinyin for every phrase. If the characters still feel unfamiliar, start with our guide to reading Chinese characters.
Table of contents
A note from the Fluent in 3 Months team before we get started: You can chat away in Chinese for at least 15 minutes with the “Fluent in 3 Months” method. All it takes is 90 days. Tap this link to find out more.
General Ways to Wish Good Luck in Chinese
Let’s start with some general good luck phrases in Chinese that you can use in nearly any kind of situation.
祝你好运 / 祝你好運 (zhù nǐ hǎoyùn)
Meaning: Wishing you good luck
This is the most straightforward way to wish someone good luck in Chinese. It closely matches the English phrase, but a situation-specific expression can sound more natural. Those are up next!
加油 (jiāyóu)
Meaning: Keep it up / Go for it!
加油 is a versatile and widely used phrase in Chinese. Literally meaning “add oil,” it’s used to encourage someone or cheer them on. You’ll hear this phrase often in various contexts, from sports events to everyday challenges.
我给你加油 / 我給你加油 (wǒ gěi nǐ jiāyóu)
Meaning: I’m rooting for you
This expression takes 加油 (right above) a step further by personalising the encouragement. It’s a great way to show your support for someone facing a challenge or pursuing a goal.
祝你顺利 / 祝你順利 (zhù nǐ shùnlì)
Meaning: I hope everything goes well
This phrase suits exams, job interviews, travel plans, and other situations where you want things to go smoothly.
祝你成功 (zhù nǐ chénggōng)
Meaning: I wish you success
This goal-focused wish is more specific than a general “good luck”. Use it when the outcome is about succeeding at a task or project.
These general phrases provide a solid foundation for expressing good luck in Chinese. Next, let’s check out more specific expressions tailored to different occasions and life events.
Good Luck for Specific, Everyday Situations
Okay, so let’s go deeper in our ways to wish someone luck in Chinese. In Chinese culture, there are many expressions for well-wishing related to studies, work, health, and more!
Academic Success
Need to wish a student good luck in Chinese? Here are some special ways to do it!
好好考啊 (hǎohǎo kǎo a)
Meaning: Do your best on the exam
This is a casual way to encourage a friend or classmate before an exam. The final 啊 (a) softens the encouragement.
祝你学业有成 / 祝你學業有成 (zhù nǐ xuéyè yǒuchéng)
Meaning: I wish you success in your studies
Use this phrase for someone’s studies as a whole, such as when they start a school year or degree programme.
祝你考试顺利 / 祝你考試順利 (zhù nǐ kǎoshì shùnlì)
Meaning: I hope your exam goes smoothly
This direct, natural wish works before a particular exam and is neutral enough for friends, classmates, or students.
祝你金榜题名 / 祝你金榜題名 (zhù nǐ jīnbǎng tímíng)
Meaning: May you pass the examination
The final four-character idiom (known as a 成语 chéngyǔ) of this phrase literally means “May your name be listed on the golden roster.” It’s a more formal and traditional way to wish someone success in their exams, often used for important tests such as university entrance exams.
Career and Work
Right, so someone you know has finished studying and is moving on to work, and you want to wish them good luck in Chinese! Here are phrases you can use with friends, colleagues, neighbours, or anyone else you know working hard!
好好干啊 / 好好幹啊 (hǎohǎo gàn a)
Meaning: Do your best
This casual encouragement can suit a friend or close colleague who is about to tackle some work. With someone senior, choose a more neutral wish such as 祝你工作顺利.
祝你事业顺利 / 祝你事業順利 (zhù nǐ shìyè shùnlì)
Meaning: May your career go smoothly
This phrase is perfect for long-term career wishes, such as when someone starts a new job or launches a business venture.
祝你工作顺利 / 祝你工作順利 (zhù nǐ gōngzuò shùnlì)
Meaning: I hope work goes smoothly
This is a natural, neutral wish for a new job, project, or workday.
马到成功 / 馬到成功 (mǎdào chénggōng)
Meaning: May you immediately meet with success
This four-character idiom literally means “success upon the horse’s arrival.” It’s used to wish someone quick success in their endeavours, especially in business or career contexts.
步步高升 (bùbù gāoshēng)
Meaning: May you continuously get promoted
Another four-character idiom, this phrase wishes for continuous career advancement. It’s particularly suitable for congratulating someone on a promotion or wishing them future career growth.
Health and Well-being
Of course, health is another aspect of life where good luck is important in Chinese! Here’s how to specifically wish someone good health.
祝你身体健康 / 祝你身體健康 (zhù nǐ shēntǐ jiànkāng)
Meaning: May your body be healthy and strong
This is a common phrase used to wish anyone good health and therefore is suitable for various occasions.
祝你长命百岁 / 祝你長命百歲 (zhù nǐ chángmìng bǎisuì)
Meaning: May you live to a hundred
Often used for elders, this phrase wishes for longevity. It’s particularly appropriate for birthdays or during Chinese New Year celebrations.
祝你福寿安康 / 祝你福壽安康 (zhù nǐ fúshòu ānkāng)
Meaning: Good fortune, safety, and health
This comprehensive well-wish combines hopes for fortune, longevity, peace, and health. It’s a respectful and formal way to express good wishes, especially to elders or in more formal settings.
By the way, there are many more ways to wish someone a happy new year! Check out our specific article on wishing “Happy New Year” in Chinese, giving you a whopping 15 ways to do it!
Good Luck for Special Occasions
Okay, so we’ve gone over how to wish someone good luck in Chinese for everyday occasions. Now, let’s look at more special occasions! In Chinese culture, special occasions call for specific well-wishes. Let’s explore some good luck expressions for weddings, birthdays, and other celebrations.
Weddings
If you want to offer a Mandarin wedding wish, these phrases give you several options for the happy couple.
祝你们幸福 / 祝你們幸福 (zhù nǐmen xìngfú)
Meaning: I wish you (both) happiness
This simple yet heartfelt phrase is perfect for wishing newlyweds a happy life together. It’s versatile and can be used in both formal and informal settings.
祝你们百年好合 / 祝你們百年好合 (zhù nǐmen bǎinián hǎohé)
Meaning: I wish you a long life together
Literally wishing the couple “a good match for a hundred years,” this phrase expresses hope for a lasting and harmonious marriage.
白头偕老 / 白頭偕老 (báitóu xiélǎo)
Meaning: May you grow old together
This four-character idiom paints a poetic image of a couple growing old together, with white hair. It’s a beautiful way to wish for a long-lasting marriage.
多子多孙 / 多子多孫 (duōzǐ duōsūn)
Meaning: May you have many children and grandchildren
This is a traditional wish for numerous descendants. It can sound intrusive if you do not know the couple’s plans, so save it for families who welcome that kind of blessing.
永结同心 / 永結同心 (yǒngjié tóngxīn)
Meaning: May you be united in heart forever
This established wedding blessing wishes the couple lasting unity.
早生贵子 / 早生貴子 (zǎoshēng guìzǐ)
Meaning: May you soon have a son
This traditional phrase is explicitly gendered: 贵子 / 貴子 means an honoured son. It can also intrude on family-planning choices, so do not use it unless you know the couple welcomes this traditional fertility wish.
Birthdays
Everyone has a birthday, so here’s how you express well wishes in Chinese year-round!
生日快乐 / 生日快樂 (shēngrì kuàilè)
Meaning: Happy birthday
This is the standard way to wish someone a happy birthday in Chinese. It’s simple, direct, and suitable for all ages.
祝你天天快乐，心想事成 / 祝你天天快樂，心想事成 (zhù nǐ tiāntiān kuàilè, xīnxiǎng shìchéng)
Meaning: Wishing you daily joy and success
This longer birthday wish combines hopes for daily happiness and the fulfillment of one’s wishes. It’s a warm and comprehensive birthday blessing. Since it’s a bit fluffy, keep it in your back pocket for speeches, maybe.
New Year and Other Celebrations
Mandarin speakers may celebrate 1 January, Lunar New Year, or both. These two greetings suit the season, but they are not interchangeable in every context.
恭喜发财 / 恭喜發財 (gōngxǐ fācái)
Meaning: May you be prosperous
Commonly used during Chinese New Year, this phrase wishes for prosperity and good fortune. It is strongly associated with Lunar New Year and is not a substitute for “congratulations” in every situation.
新年快乐 / 新年快樂 (xīnnián kuàilè)
Meaning: Happy New Year
This is the standard way to wish someone a happy New Year, used for either Lunar New Year or 1 January when the context is clear.
Good Luck for Wealth and Prosperity
In Chinese culture, wishing someone good fortune often includes hopes for financial success and prosperity, as we’ve seen in some of the expressions above! These phrases are commonly used during business dealings, career advancements, or general well-wishes for a prosperous future.
Here are some popular expressions, followed by a short discussion about their appropriateness in different contexts.
祝你财源广进 / 祝你財源廣進 (zhù nǐ cáiyuán guǎngjìn)
Meaning: May wealth come to you from many sources
This blessing literally wishes that wealth will come in from many sources or directions. It suits Lunar New Year greetings, business openings, and other prosperity-focused occasions.
祝你财运亨通 / 祝你財運亨通 (zhù nǐ cáiyùn hēngtōng)
Meaning: May your financial luck run smoothly
财运 / 財運 (cáiyùn) means financial luck, while 亨通 (hēngtōng) means smooth or prosperous. The phrase wishes for favourable financial prospects; it does not specifically mean managing money well.
祝你财源滚滚 / 祝你財源滾滾 (zhù nǐ cáiyuán gǔngǔn)
Meaning: May wealth keep rolling in
滚滚 / 滾滾 (gǔngǔn) suggests continuous rolling or surging motion. The vivid phrase is common in festive or business settings where a prosperity wish feels natural.
Prosperity wishes are especially visible around Lunar New Year and at business openings. They can also suit a new job or promotion when the relationship and occasion make a money-focused blessing appropriate.
When using these phrases, it’s important to consider the context and your relationship with the person. In more formal or business settings, these wishes for financial prosperity are generally well-received. However, in personal relationships, you might want to balance these with wishes for health and happiness as well.
Do not assume every Mandarin speaker is equally comfortable with direct references to wealth. These set phrases are conventional in particular festive and business contexts, but your relationship with the listener still matters.
Additional Good Luck Phrases
In addition to situation-specific expressions, there are several versatile phrases in Chinese that can be used to wish someone good luck or express good wishes in various contexts. Let’s explore some of these:
一路顺风 / 一路順風 (yílù shùnfēng)
Meaning: Bon voyage
Literally “favourable wind all the way,” this is primarily a farewell for someone setting off on a journey.
保重 (bǎozhòng)
Meaning: Take care
This simple yet meaningful phrase is often used when parting ways, especially if you won’t see the person for a while. Or it’s alternatively used if someone’s not feeling well. It shows your concern for their well-being and is a gentle way of wishing them good luck in taking care of themselves.
寿比南山，福如东海 / 壽比南山，福如東海 (shòu bǐ Nánshān, fú rú Dōnghǎi)
Meaning: May your longevity match the Southern Mountain and your blessings be as vast as the Eastern Sea
This poetic, formal birthday wish is often addressed to an older person. Its mountain-and-sea imagery emphasises the scale of the blessing.
Good Luck Symbols and Animals in Chinese Culture
While Chinese is rich in phrases, it’s also got a wealth of symbols for good luck! Here are a few noteworthy examples:
Good Luck Symbols and Signs
Here are some general lucky signs and symbols in Chinese culture.
- 红色 / 紅色 (hóngsè): Red, associated with joy, celebration, and good fortune.
- 八 (bā): Eight, widely treated as auspicious partly because its pronunciation resembles 发 / 發 (fā), “to prosper,” in expressions such as 发财 / 發財 (fācái).
- 玉 (yù): Jade, associated with virtue, protection, and well-being in Chinese material culture.
- 竹 (zhú): Bamboo – this symbolizes growth, strength, and resilience.
- 钱币 / 錢幣 (qiánbì): Coins, including old-style round coins with square holes, 方孔钱 / 方孔錢 (fāngkǒngqián), often appear in prosperity designs.
- 鸳鸯 / 鴛鴦 (yuānyāng): Mandarin ducks, associated with paired love and marital harmony.
- 牡丹 (mǔdān): Peonies, associated with wealth and honour.
Lucky Animals
Of course, there are many animals that represent good luck in Chinese culture, as well as fortune, and more! Here are some of the most famous examples.
- 龙 / 龍 (lóng): Dragon, symbol of power, strength, and good fortune.
- 凤凰 / 鳳凰 (fènghuáng): Phoenix, represents virtue and grace.
- 虎 (hǔ): Tiger, symbolizes strength and bravery.
- 蝙蝠 (biānfú): Bat, the second syllable sounds like 福 (fú, “blessing” or “good fortune”), one example of the homophones used in Chinese visual symbolism.
- 仙鹤 / 仙鶴 (xiānhè): Crane, symbolizes longevity.
- 锦鲤 / 錦鯉 (jǐnlǐ): Koi fish, represents perseverance and success.
- 金鲤鱼 / 金鯉魚 (jīnlǐyú): Golden carp, associated with abundance and perseverance.
- 乌龟 / 烏龜 (wūguī): Tortoise, symbolizes longevity and wisdom.
Chinese Zodiac Animals (生肖 shēngxiào)
Some animals above also belong to the Chinese zodiac, 生肖 (shēngxiào). Its twelve signs are:
- 鼠 (shǔ, Rat)
- 牛 (niú, Ox)
- 虎 (hǔ, Tiger)
- 兔 (tù, Rabbit)
- 龙 / 龍 (lóng, Dragon)
- 蛇 (shé, Snake)
- 马 / 馬 (mǎ, Horse)
- 羊 (yáng, Goat or Sheep)
- 猴 (hóu, Monkey)
- 鸡 / 雞 (jī, Rooster)
- 狗 (gǒu, Dog)
- 猪 / 豬 (zhū, Pig)
There is no single authoritative ranking of “luckiest” zodiac animals. The dragon is widely auspicious, but every sign attracts different traits and stories. That means my Rooster sign is not automatically unlucky just because it is missing from someone’s “luckiest signs” list.
In popular zodiac tradition, a person’s own zodiac year is called 本命年 (běnmìngnián). It is often treated as a potentially challenging year rather than an automatically lucky one. Interpretations vary by family, region, and astrological tradition, so treat horoscope claims as beliefs rather than predictions.
Chinese Astrology and Feng Shui
Feng shui (风水 / 風水, fēngshuǐ) is a traditional Chinese practice concerned with siting and arranging spaces in relation to qi (气 / 氣, qì). It draws on concepts including yin and yang (阴阳 / 陰陽, yīnyáng) and wuxing (五行, wǔxíng), often translated as the Five Phases or Five Elements.
Feng shui is distinct from Chinese zodiac astrology, although some schools combine them. Claims about “lucky directions” depend on the school and practitioner, so treat them as cultural beliefs rather than guarantees.
Frequently Asked Questions
Now, before I wrap up, to help you further understand and use these good luck expressions in Chinese, here are answers to some common questions. Consider this a recap of what we learned today!
Q1: How do you wish someone luck in Chinese?
A: The most straightforward way is to say 祝你好运 (zhù nǐ hǎoyùn), which directly translates to “wish you good luck.” However, Chinese speakers often prefer more specific phrases tailored to the situation, such as 加油 (jiāyóu) for general encouragement or 祝你成功 (zhù nǐ chénggōng) for wishing success.
Q2: What is a Chinese word for good fortune?
A: 福 (fú) means blessing, happiness, or good fortune, depending on context. You often see the character in Lunar New Year decorations and in phrases such as 祝你福寿安康 / 祝你福壽安康 (zhù nǐ fúshòu ānkāng).
Q3: How to pronounce these good luck phrases correctly?
A: Chinese is a tonal language, which can make pronunciation challenging for non-native speakers. Here are some tips:
- Pay attention to the pinyin, especially the tone marks.
- Listen to native speakers. If you want a structured audio course, read our ChineseClass101 review before deciding whether it suits you.
- Practise regularly, focusing on the tones and rhythm of the phrases.
Q4: Are these phrases used in all Chinese-speaking regions?
A: This guide teaches standard Mandarin. Many written forms are widely recognisable, but spoken expressions and preferences vary across mainland China, Taiwan, Singapore, and other Mandarin-speaking communities. Cantonese and other Chinese varieties have their own spoken phrasing, and Hong Kong speakers may prefer Cantonese in daily life.
Q5: Is it appropriate to use elaborate good luck phrases in casual conversations?
A: It depends on the phrase and occasion. 加油 (jiāyóu) is natural encouragement among friends, while fixed blessings such as 百年好合 (bǎinián hǎohé) fit weddings, cards, speeches, and festival greetings.
Q6: Can I use these phrases in emails or messages?
A: Yes, but match the phrase to the occasion and relationship. A short 加油 works in a friendly message; a wedding or Lunar New Year blessing belongs in the relevant celebration, not an unrelated work email.
Good Luck Learning Chinese!
As we’ve explored in this comprehensive guide, there are numerous ways to say “good luck” in Chinese, each tailored to specific situations or occasions. Some key points to remember:
- Context matters: Choose the expression for the situation, relationship, and level of formality.
- Culture is not uniform: Preferences vary by speaker, community, and occasion.
- Some phrases travel well: 加油 (jiāyóu) works in many situations where you want to encourage someone.
- Set blessings need context: Poetic idioms can sound lovely in a card or speech but overdone in a quick chat.
- Sincerity still counts: A simple phrase used naturally is better than an elaborate one used at the wrong moment.
Add a few of these phrases to your Mandarin repertoire and notice when speakers actually use them. That combination of language and context will help you connect more naturally.
For more everyday vocabulary to practise alongside them, explore our guide to core Chinese words.
祝你学习进步，越来越棒！(zhù nǐ xuéxí jìnbù, yuè lái yuè bàng!)
Meaning: I wish you progress in your studies and continued improvement!
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