5 Ways to Say Good Luck in Korean
After this page, you can pick the right way to say “Good Luck” depending on formality and the situation.
10-Second Answer
The word Koreans actually shout is 화이팅 ("fighting!") — an energetic cheer for effort, not literal luck. The direct "good luck" translation, 행운을 빌어요, exists but sounds more formal and literary — save it for wishes tied to chance (a lottery, an interview outcome) rather than everyday encouragement.
The Full Spectrum
| Phrase | Formality / Tone | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| 행운을 빕니다 (haenguneul bimnida) | Formal, literary | "I wish you good luck" — writing, speeches, or wishing well on an outcome involving chance |
| 행운을 빌어요 (haenguneul bireoyo) | Polite-casual | The same wish, softened to spoken 해요체 — texts to acquaintances or coworkers |
| 잘 될 거예요 (jal doel geoyeyo) | Polite, reassuring | "It'll go well" — comforting someone nervous before an exam, interview, or event |
| 화이팅! (hwaiting!) | Casual, universal | The all-purpose cheer of encouragement — shouted before exams, games, performances, anything |
| 잘해! (jalhae!) | Casual (반말) | "Do well!" to a close friend right before they start something — short and energetic |
The One Rule That Matters Most
행운 ("luck/fortune") implies chance is involved — a raffle, a coin flip, an unpredictable outcome. For effort-based situations like exams, interviews, or games, 화이팅 is the native choice, because it cheers on the person's effort rather than wishing for random luck. Mixing these up is the single biggest tell of a non-native speaker.
Quick Examples
시험 화이팅!
siheom hwaiting!
Good luck on the exam!
시험 ("exam") + 화이팅 — the standard way to cheer someone on before a test.
너무 걱정하지 마, 잘 될 거야.
neomu geokjeonghaji ma, jal doel geoya.
Don't worry too much, it'll go well.
Casual 반말 reassurance, common right before someone's interview or performance.
Common Mistakes
Mistake #1 — Saying 행운을 빌어요 before an exam
It's understood but sounds oddly formal/literary for an effort-based event — 화이팅 is what Koreans actually say.
Mistake #2 — Assuming 화이팅 always means "good luck"
화이팅 is a general cheer of encouragement (like "you've got this!") — it also gets used for celebration, team spirit, and casual pep talks with no luck involved at all.
Mini Quiz
1. Which phrase would a Korean actually shout before a friend's exam?
2. What does 행운 specifically imply that 화이팅 doesn't?
3. What does 잘 될 거예요 mean?
Related Knowledge
Learn Next
화이팅 (Hwaiting) — what it means
You've seen 화이팅 in the spectrum — go deeper on where it came from and its full range of uses.
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Start today's study →Last updated: 2026-08-11 · Written and reviewed by a native Korean speaker.