How to say “Good luck” in Korean
- 행운을 빌어요haenguneul bireoyo
I wish you luck
"Good luck" in Korean is 행운을 빌어요 (haenguneul bireoyo), which means "I wish you luck." In everyday life, though, Koreans more often say 화이팅 (hwaiting) or 잘 될 거야 (it will go well) before a test or interview.
Ways to say it
| Korean | Level | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| 행운을 빌어요 haenguneul bireoyo | Polite | The direct translation of "good luck." It sounds sincere and a bit serious, good for cards and goodbyes. |
| 행운을 빌어 haenguneul bireo | Casual | The same wish to a friend. Still a little dramatic in speech, so it often appears in writing. |
| 화이팅 hwaiting | Any | The everyday cheer before any challenge. Add the event in front: 시험 화이팅 (good luck on your exam). |
| 잘 될 거야 jal doel geoya | Casual | "It will go well." Reassuring words for a nervous friend. Polite form: 잘 될 거예요. |
| 시험 잘 봐 siheom jal bwa | Casual | "Do well on your test." The usual thing to say to a friend before an exam. Polite form: 시험 잘 보세요. |
Examples
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Texting a friend before a job interview
Your little brother is leaving for an exam
Saying goodbye to a coworker who is moving abroad
Tips
In speech, 행운을 빌어 can sound like a line from a movie. For a friend facing something hard, 화이팅 or 잘 될 거야 feels more natural.
Before the big college entrance exam (수능), Koreans give sticky 엿 (taffy) and 찹쌀떡 (rice cakes) because 붙다 means both "to stick" and "to pass."
Many people avoid seaweed soup (미역국) before an exam, because it is slippery and 미끄러지다 (to slip) is slang for failing.
More on 화이팅 in our Korean phrase guides.
Questions learners ask
How do you say good luck on your exam in Korean?
Say 시험 잘 봐 (siheom jal bwa) to a friend or 시험 잘 보세요 (siheom jal boseyo) politely. 시험 화이팅 also works.
Is 화이팅 the same as good luck?
Not exactly, but it is used in the same moments. 화이팅 means something like "you can do it" or "go for it" and is the most common thing to say before a challenge.