Short answer
“good luck” in Korean is 행운을 빌어요
How to say good luck in Korean?
How to say good luck in Korean: the standard expression is '행운을 빌어요' (haeng-un-eul bi-reo-yo), which literally means 'I wish you good luck.' Use it with people you are not close to or in polite situations. For friends and people younger than you, the casual form is '행운을 빌어' (haeng-un-eul bi-reo). Even more common in daily conversation is '화이팅' (hwa-i-ting) or '파이팅' (pa-i-ting), borrowed from English 'fighting', used to cheer someone on before a test or challenge.
Common pairings
시험에 행운을 빌어요면접에 행운을 빌어요행운을 빕니다화이팅 하세요행운이 함께하길 바랄게요
How to use it
- 행운을 빌어요 is the safe, polite way to wish someone luck. Use it in everyday situations with people you are not close to: coworkers, acquaintances, elders, or service situations. You can attach it to a specific event: 시험에 행운을 빌어요 (good luck on the exam), 면접에 행운을 빌어요 (good luck on the interview).
- 행운을 빌어 is casual, so only use it with friends or people younger than you. When Koreans want to cheer someone on rather than literally 'wish luck', they usually say 화이팅 or 파이팅. These are informal; to make them polite, add 하세요: 화이팅 하세요, 파이팅 하세요.
Examples
다음 시험에 행운을 빌어요.
I wish you good luck on the next exam.
다음 시험 (da-eum si-heom) = next exam. 행운을 빌어요 (haeng-un-eul bi-reo-yo) = I wish you luck; the -요 ending makes it polite.
내일 면접 행운을 빌어!
Good luck on tomorrow's interview!
내일 면접 (nae-il myeon-jeop) = tomorrow's interview. 행운을 빌어 (haeng-un-eul bi-reo) is the casual form, used with friends or younger people.
화이팅! 나는 네가 잘 될 거라고 믿어.
Good luck! I believe you'll do well.
화이팅 (hwa-i-ting) is the everyday cheering expression. 네가 잘 될 거라고 (ne-ga jal doel geo-ra-go) = that you'll do well; this sentence sounds friendly and informal.
시험 잘 봐! 파이팅!
Do well on the exam! Good luck!
시험 잘 봐 (si-heom jal bwa) = do well on the exam (casual). 파이팅 (pa-i-ting) is another spelling of 화이팅; both are common.
Common mistakes
| Wrong | Correct | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 행운을 빌어 | 행운을 빌어요 | '행운을 빌어' is the casual, low-polite form. If you say this to a boss, professor, or someone older, it sounds rude. Use '행운을 빌어요' for polite situations, or '행운을 빕니다' for very formal ones. |
| Unnatural | Natural | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 행운을 빌어요 | '좋은 운' is a word-for-word translation of 'good luck'. In Korean, 'luck' in this wish is expressed as the single noun '행운', so '좋은 운을 빌어요' sounds unnatural. |
FAQ
- How to say good luck in Korean?The most standard way is '행운을 빌어요' (haeng-un-eul bi-reo-yo), which means 'I wish you good luck.' In casual conversation with friends, Koreans more often say '화이팅' (hwa-i-ting) or '파이팅' (pa-i-ting).
- Is it better to say 화이팅 or 행운을 빌어요?It depends on the situation. '행운을 빌어요' is the literal, polite expression for 'good luck.' '화이팅' is a cheerful encouragement, like 'you can do it,' and is the most common before tests or competitions. For someone older or in a formal setting, use '행운을 빌어요' or '화이팅 하세요.'
- Can I use 'good luck' literally in Korean?No. Literally translating 'good luck' as '좋은 운' is unnatural. Use the noun '행운' instead: '행운을 빌어요' for polite, '행운을 빌어' for casual.