How to Say Good Luck in Japanese: Wishing Someone Ganbatte in Japanese Language
Last updated: January 2, 2026
Here's the thing: Japanese culture approaches encouragement a bit differently than English speakers do. While we say "good luck" and hope fortune smiles on someone, Japanese speakers focus more on effort and perseverance. The most common phrase you'll hear is , which literally means "do your best" or "hang in there." This cultural nuance matters because understanding it helps you sound more natural and connect better with Japanese speakers. Let's dive into all the ways you can encourage someone when learning Japanese, from casual friend chats to formal business settings.
The main way to say good luck: Ganbatte
The expression is your go-to phrase for wishing someone good luck in Japanese. You'll hear it constantly in anime, at sports events, before exams, and pretty much any time someone faces a challenge.
The word comes from the verb , which means "to persevere" or "to do your best." When you say ganbatte, you're essentially telling someone to give it their all and keep pushing forward. This reflects something important about Japanese culture: the emphasis on effort over luck.
Variations of ganbatte
The phrase changes slightly depending on who you're talking to:
- is the commanding form. You'll hear coaches yell this at athletes or parents encouraging their kids. It's direct and energetic, often used when cheering someone on during an activity. Think of it as "Go for it!" or "You can do it!"
- adds polite ness. Use this with coworkers, acquaintances, or anyone you'd speak politely to. The "kudasai" makes it a polite request, so you're respectfully asking them to do their best.
- is the friendly, casual version. The "ne" particle adds warmth and makes it perfect for friends and people you're close with. I use this one all the time with my language exchange partners.
Is ganbatte good luck? Technically, ganbatte translates more to "do your best" than "good luck," but Japanese speakers use it in all the same situations where English speakers would say "good luck." So yeah, it functions as the standard good luck phrase in Japanese conversation.
Formal ways to wish someone good luck
When you need to sound more formal or professional, ganbatte might feel too casual. Here are some alternatives for ceremonies, business contexts, and formal situations.
- literally means "I pray for your good fortune." This is a direct translation of wishing someone luck in Japanese. You'd use this in written messages, formal speeches, or when addressing someone of higher status. The verb inorimasu means "to pray" or "to wish," making this quite formal and sincere.
- means "I pray for your success." This works great for job interviews, business presentations, or important life events like weddings. It's formal but shows genuine support for someone's endeavors.
- is super formal and means "I humbly pray for your good fight." You'd see this in official letters, business emails, or formal announcements. It's pretty stiff, so save it for the most formal situations.
Casual and friendly alternatives
Sometimes you want to keep things light and friendly. Here are some casual expressions for wishing someone good.
- means "It'll go well!" This is reassuring and optimistic. I like using this when a friend is nervous about something because it's encouraging without being too intense.
- comes from the English word "fight" but means "Go for it!" or "You've got this!" in Japanese. You'll see this written in katakana because it's a loanword. It's energetic and casual, perfect for cheering on friends.
- is the super casual, shortened version of ganbatte. Young people use this in texts and casual conversation. Think of it like saying "Do ya best!" to a close friend.
- means "You can do it if you try." This is motivational and shows you believe in someone's abilities. Parents often say this to their kids.
Context-specific good luck phrases
Japanese has specific phrases for different situations. Using the right one shows cultural awareness and makes you sound more fluent.
For safety and travel
- means "Be careful" or "Take care." Use this when someone's traveling or heading into a potentially risky situation. It shows concern for their wellbeing rather than wishing for success.
- is what you say when someone leaves the house. It means "Go and come back safely." The person leaving responds with , meaning "I'll go and come back."
For health
- means "Take care of yourself" and is specifically for when someone's sick or recovering. You wouldn't use this before an exam or interview, only in health-related contexts.
For exams and tests
- combines "exam" with ganbatte. You can do this with any challenge: for work, or for practice.
- literally means "cherry blossoms bloom" but is a poetic way to wish someone success on entrance exams. Cherry blossoms blooming symbolizes the good news of exam results.
Japanese culture and lucky symbols
While language focuses on effort, Japanese culture has plenty of lucky charms and symbols worth knowing about.
- are protective amulets sold at shrines and temples. People buy specific omamori for different purposes: exam success, traffic safety, good health, or finding love. Before a big exam, it's common to carry a for academic success.
- are those waving cat figurines you see in Japanese businesses. They're believed to bring good fortune and customers. The raised paw "beckons" good luck.
- are round, hollow dolls modeled after Bodhidharma. You paint in one eye when setting a goal, then paint the other eye when you achieve it. They symbolize perseverance and goal achievement, which aligns perfectly with the ganbatte mindset.
Practical usage examples
Let's see how these phrases work in real conversations.
Before a job interview:
Friend: 。
I have an interview tomorrow.
You:
Do your best! It'll go well!
Before a sports match:
Teammate: 。
Today's an important match.
You:
Go for it! Fight!
In a formal email to a colleague:
。
I pray for the success of your presentation.
To a friend taking exams:
!
Do your best on the exam! May the cherry blossoms bloom!
When someone's leaving:
Them: !
I'm heading out!
You: !
See you later! Be careful!
Regional and generational differences
While ganbatte is universal across Japan, you might hear some regional variations. In Kansai (the Osaka/Kyoto region), people sometimes use , where "honma ni" is Kansai dialect for "really" and "ya" is a dialectical particle.
Younger generations tend to use shortened forms more often. You'll see in texts, or even just gnb as an abbreviation. Older generations stick with the full ganbatte or more formal expressions.
The use of is more common among younger people and in casual settings. Older, more traditional speakers might prefer sticking with purely Japanese expressions like ganbatte or kouun wo inorimasu.
Learn Japanese through real encouragement
The phrase will probably be one of the most useful expressions you learn. You'll hear it constantly in Japanese media, conversations, and daily life. Master this one phrase and its variations, and you'll be able to encourage people naturally in dozens of situations.
Remember that wishing someone good in Japanese comes in many forms depending on context, formality, and your relationship with the person. A casual ganba to a close friend, a polite ganbatte kudasai to a coworker, or a formal seikou wo inoru in a business email all serve the same purpose: showing support and encouragement.
The more you learn Japanese, the more you'll notice these cultural differences in how languages express similar ideas. Japanese focuses on what someone can control (their effort) rather than what they can't (random luck). Pretty cool how language reflects cultural values, right?
Anyway, if you want to actually practice using these phrases with real Japanese content, Migaku's browser extension and app let you look up words instantly while watching shows or reading articles. You can save phrases like ganbatte with context and review them later. There's a 10-day free trial if you want to check it out.
FAQs
Level up the positive energy with good luck in Japanese!
Understanding how to wish someone good luck in Japanese opens up a whole window into Japanese values and communication style. The emphasis on effort, perseverance, and personal responsibility shapes how people encourage each other. As there are so many good luck phrases in anime and manga, it shouldn't be hard for you to pick them up!
If you consume media in Japanese, and you understand at least some of the messages and sentences within that media, you will make progress. Period.
Good luck with today's study!