Search results
This website, run by a Japanese native speaker Takashi, introduces intriguing, quirky and useful Japanese expressions (e.g. idioms, slang words) that are not covered by textbooks or language classes but often used by native Japanese speakers.
- How Do You Say “Good Luck” in Japanese?
- 頑張って! (Ganbatte): Good Luck!
- Writing 頑張って (Ganbatte) with Kanji
- うまくいくといいね (Umaku Iku to II NE): Good Luck! / I Hope It Goes Well
- 健闘を祈ります (Kentō O Inorimasu): Good Luck! / Giving It Your All
- 幸あれ (Sachi Are): Good Luck! / All The Best
- Other Japanese Words For Good Luck
- 頑張って (Ganbatte): Wishing Someone Good Luck in A Bad Way?
- More Example Dialogues Using 頑張って
When wishing someone good luck, the exact translation in Japanese would be 幸運を祈ります (Kōun o inorimasu). But this phrase is not often used in our daily conversation. In fact, it sounds a bit awkward if used. We’ll talk about this expression in more detail later in this article. But for now, let’s go over the most common and natural ways to say “good ...
You’ll hear native Japanese speakers saying 頑張って! (ganbatte) a lot. While this is not a direct translation of “good luck,” it is the most natural and commonly used. 頑張って! (ganbatte) is used when you want to wish someone good luck for an upcoming event. This could be something important like an exam or a job interview, or a competition (sports, acad...
Not to get too sidetracked, but the meaning of the kanji characters of 頑張って is pretty cool. 頑 (gan) means “stubborn,” while 張 (ha) means “to stick” or “to affix.” So the kanji or 頑張って means “to be firm (to stick) in your stubbornness.” Examples: 1. 就活、頑張ってね。 (Shūkatsu, ganbatte ne.) Good luckwith finding a job. 2. 明日のテスト、頑張って！ (Ashita no shiken gan...
This expression translates to, “I hope it goes well.” Though this phrase does have a nuance of “good luck,” it is less frequently used compared to 頑張って (ganbatte). However, it is possible to use this phrase along with 頑張って (ganbatte). うまく (umaku) means something going or doing something “well,” and いく (iku) means “to go.” The conditional と (to) par...
健闘 (kentō) means “a good fight” or “to put a lot of effort into something.” 祈る (inoru) means “to pray.” This is an expression you say to someone when you want them to give it their all and show their ability to the fullest. This is a formal phrase, so it is not often used in casual situations. For example, it can be used in semi-formal speeches bef...
This classical and even poetic expression is used to wish someone good luck. 幸 (sachi) is kun-yomi (Japanese reading) of the kanji. ～あれ (are) is a classic command form that is not used in daily conversation. It is used in song lyrics, congratulatory speeches, or formal writings. Sometimes 幸あれ (sachi are) is used as a catchphrase.
While the words listed here mean “good luck,” they are intended to be used as expressions to describe types of luck. These words and phrases are not used to wish someone “good luck.”
At the beginning of this article, I mentioned that 頑張って(ね)! (ganbatte ne) is often used as a way to encourage someone. However, depending on the situation, 頑張って (ganbatte) can also sound sarcastic. It is like saying “good luck with that” in English to imply that you don’t think someone will succeed. In Japanese, you can say せいぜい頑張って(ね/ください) (seizei...
If you want to see more examples of how 頑張って (ganbatte) is used, take a look at these 2 example dialgues.
Oct 4, 2020 · October 4, 2020. This article explains the meanings and usages of various 和製英語 (wasei-eigo), or “Japlish”, i.e., Japanese-made English. In particular, I’ve picked Japlish expressions that sound strange or do not make any sense in English! * I’ve moved some words to a separate post: Confusing English Loan Words Used in Japanese ...
Dec 7, 2023 · Ganba (がんば) = A short version of “ganbatte,” meaning “do your best” or “good luck.” Guguru (ググる) = To Google something. Guru guru (ぐるぐる) = Going around in circles – literally or metaphorically.
Oct 28, 2019 · Learn Japanese slang, including Japanese internet slang, Japanese swear words, cool Japanese words, and regional Japanese slang.
Jul 23, 2019 · マジ (maji) is a very popular Japanese slang which is especially used among young Japanese people and it means “Really?” or “seriously.” There are several forms of マジ ( maji ). When you ask a question, you use マジ? or マジで?
People also ask
How to say “good luck” in Japanese?
What does OB og mean?
What does “my boom” mean in Japanese?
How do you wish someone good luck in Japanese?
How to use Japanese slang?
How do you say 'good luck' in English?
Jul 2, 2024 · Usage: Formal way to wish someone good luck, implying that you are praying for their success. Example Sentence Japanese: 君の成功を心から幸運を祈る。 Example Sentence English: I sincerely wish you the best of luck.
