Translation guide
The English word 'lucky' describes a favorable outcome that seems to happen by chance. In Japanese, the most common equivalent is ラッキー, a casual loanword. Other expressions depend on whether you are describing a person, a situation, or a feeling of gratitude for good fortune.
Expressing that something turned out well by chance, in everyday conversation.
A very common casual loanword used in the same way as English 'lucky'. Suitable for informal situations.
電車に間に合ってラッキーだった。
I was lucky to catch the train.
ラッキー！財布が見つかった。
Lucky! I found my wallet.
Literally 'luck is good'. A standard way to say someone is lucky or has good fortune. Can describe a person or a specific event.
彼は本当に運がいい。
He is really lucky.
運がいいことに、雨が降らなかった。
Luckily, it didn't rain.
A very casual, colloquial phrase meaning 'I'm on a roll' or 'things are going my way'. Often used when you feel lucky in the moment.
今日はついてる！
I'm lucky today!
Describing a favorable situation with a slightly more formal or objective tone.
A noun or na-adjective meaning 'good luck' or 'fortunate'. Used in both spoken and written Japanese, but slightly more formal than ラッキー.
それは幸運な出来事だった。
That was a lucky event.
幸運にも、けがはなかった。
Fortunately, there were no injuries.
The more formal version of 運がいい. Used in writing or polite speech.
運が良い方ですね。
You are lucky, aren't you?
Describing someone who always seems to have good luck.
Refers to exceptionally strong luck, often used for people who consistently succeed against the odds.
彼は強運の持ち主だ。
He is a person with incredibly good luck.
A playful, slangy term for a man who is always lucky. Not commonly used in serious contexts.
彼はラッキーマンだね。
He's a lucky guy, isn't he?
Referring to an object believed to bring good luck.
A general term for lucky charms or talismans, often associated with traditional Japanese culture.
これは縁起物だから大切にしている。
This is a lucky charm, so I treasure it.
A loanword from English, used in casual contexts like horoscopes or fashion.
今日のラッキーアイテムは赤い靴下です。
Today's lucky item is red socks.
Referring to a day when good things happen or are predicted to happen.
A day considered most auspicious in the traditional Japanese calendar (rokuyo). Often chosen for weddings and celebrations.
結婚式は大安の日にした。
We chose a lucky day for the wedding.
A general term for a lucky or auspicious day.
While ラッキー is very common in casual speech, it can sound childish or too informal in business or polite conversation. Use 運がいい or 幸運 instead.
運が良かったです。
I was lucky. (polite)
運がいい is a general statement about someone's luck, while ついてる is an exclamation about feeling lucky right now. ついてる is very casual and often used when something good just happened.
最後のチケットが買えてラッキーだった。
I was lucky to get the last ticket.
彼はあんないい友達がいて幸運だ。
He's lucky to have such a good friend.
今日は吉日だから、新しいことを始めよう。
Today is a lucky day, so let's start something new.