Everyday Chinese phrase
Good luck in Chinese: 加油 & 祝你好运
加油 (jiāyóu) and 祝你好运 (zhù nǐ hǎoyùn) are both encouraging, but they do not mean the same thing. 加油 supports effort; 祝你好运 explicitly wishes someone good luck.
Quick answer: 祝你好运 (zhù nǐ hǎoyùn) means “I wish you good luck.” 加油 (jiāyóu) means “keep going” or “you can do it” and is encouragement rather than luck.
English speakers often search for one translation of “good luck,” but Chinese separates encouragement from fortune. If a friend is studying, competing or facing a difficult task, 加油 may be the natural phrase. If the outcome depends partly on chance or an unknown result, 祝你好运 is more literal.
加油: you can do it
加油 (jiāyóu) literally contains 加 (add) and 油 (oil or fuel), but it functions as encouragement: “keep going,” “you can do it,” “go for it” or “stay strong.” It is common at sports events, before exams, during hard projects and when someone needs determination. It can be used for oneself, a team or another person.
祝你好运: wishing good luck
祝你好运 (zhù nǐ hǎoyùn) means “I wish you good luck.” 祝你 introduces a wish, 你 means you and 好运 means good luck. It is appropriate before an interview, a competition, a journey or another situation where the result is uncertain.
Other useful encouragement phrases
加油 and 祝你好运 can be combined when both effort and luck are relevant. 一切顺利 (yíqiè shùnlì) means “may everything go smoothly,” 祝你成功 (zhù nǐ chénggōng) means “I wish you success,” and 别放弃 (bié fàngqì) means “don’t give up.” These are not interchangeable: choose the phrase that matches the situation.
Pronunciation and written form
加油 is pronounced jiā yóu, with first tone and second tone. 祝你好运 is zhù nǐ hǎo yùn. Both phrases are written the same in simplified and traditional Chinese except where the surrounding wording changes. Keep the complete phrase together rather than using 加 or 油 alone.
Where it is used
加油 appears on banners, social posts, cards and messages of support. It can sound energetic and direct. 祝你好运 is often used before an event or result and can sound warmer or more formal depending on the sentence. Neither phrase guarantees victory, success or a fortunate outcome.
Design notes
加油 is a compact two-character phrase and works well in a horizontal or square layout. 祝你好运 has four characters and needs enough space for the internal structure of 祝 and 运. Preserve the character order and avoid a decorative script that turns the encouragement into an unverifiable slogan.
What it does not mean
加油 does not literally mean that oil is being added, and 祝你好运 does not guarantee luck. The phrases express encouragement and a wish; they do not determine the result of an exam, competition, journey or decision.
Good luck in Chinese questions
How do you say good luck in Chinese?
祝你好运 (zhù nǐ hǎoyùn) means “I wish you good luck.” 加油 (jiāyóu) is the more common encouragement phrase meaning “you can do it” or “keep going.”
What does 加油 mean?
加油 literally contains “add oil,” but in everyday use it means “come on,” “keep going,” “you can do it” or “stay strong.” It is encouragement rather than a wish for luck.
Is 加油 suitable in formal writing?
It can be used in messages and social writing, but the tone is energetic and conversational. A more formal wish such as 祝一切顺利 or 祝你成功 may fit formal correspondence better.
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