Key Facts
- Hangul: 행운; Revised Romanization: haeng-un
- Part of speech: noun
- Syllables: 2 (haeng-un)
- Origin: Sino-Korean, hanja 幸運 (幸 fortunate + 運 luck)
- Register: Neutral to somewhat formal; common in wishes.
Luck in Korean: What Does 행운 Mean?
행운 is luck in the good sense, or good fortune. It is neutral to somewhat formal and appears in wishes, greetings and lucky-item phrases. The simple word 운 means luck in general and can be good or bad, while 복 means blessing or fortune, as in the greeting 복 많이 받으세요. 행운 is the one you aim at someone as a wish.
How Do You Pronounce 행운?
행운 has two syllables, haeng and un. The first ends in the ng sound and the second starts with a silent ㅇ, so the ng stays at the end of the first syllable and does not move across. Revised Romanization allows a hyphen in haeng-un to show that boundary, so it is not misread as hae-ngun.
Example Sentences with 행운
행운을 빌어요.
Haeng-uneul bireoyo.
I wish you luck.
행운을 빌어요 is "I wish you luck", literally "I pray for luck". 빌어요 is the polite form of wishing or praying.
오늘은 행운이 있었어요.
Oneureun haeng-uni isseosseoyo.
I had good luck today.
오늘은 행운이 있었어요 says there was luck today. 있었어요 is the past of "there is", and 오늘은 marks today as the topic.
행운의 숫자는 7이에요.
Haeng-unui sutjaneun chirieyo.
My lucky number is 7.
행운의 숫자는 7이에요 uses 의 to link luck with the number, producing "the lucky number". 숫자는 is the topic, and 7이에요 is "is 7".
Common Phrases and Collocations
| Korean | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 행운을 빌다 | to wish luck |
| 행운의 숫자 | lucky number |
| 행운이 따르다 | luck follows |
행운을 빌다 is to wish someone luck, 행운의 숫자 is a lucky number and 행운이 따르다 is "luck follows", meaning good fortune comes along with you. In each case 행운 is a positive thing to receive.
The Mistake to Avoid
Wrong: ✗ 행운 when you mean happiness, as in "I feel 행운 today."
Correct: ✓ 행복 for happiness; 행운 for luck.
Why: Both words begin with 행 (幸), which means fortunate, but the second halves differ: 운 is luck and 복 is blessing. 행복 describes a feeling, 행운 describes chance.
행운 Compared with Related Words
| Word | Meaning | How it differs |
|---|---|---|
| 행운 | luck, good fortune | The word on this page. |
| 운 | luck | Neutral general word, can be good or bad. |
| 복 | blessing / fortune | Fortune, e.g. 복 많이 받으세요. |
| 행복 | happiness | Different word despite similar syllable. |
Wish someone 행운 for a test, remember that 운 can be bad luck too, and use 행복 for a happy life.
Where Does the Word Come From?
행운 is Sino-Korean, written 幸運 in hanja: 幸 means fortunate and 運 means luck. The 幸 syllable is shared with 행복, which is why the pair is easily confused.
Wishing a Classmate Luck before a Test
Two classmates exchange a few words before an exam. One offers a wish; the other thanks them and returns it.
Mina
오늘 시험이 있어요.
Oneul siheomi isseoyo.
I have an exam today.
Jisu
행운을 빌어요.
Haeng-uneul bireoyo.
I wish you luck.
Mina
고마워요. 지수 씨도 시험 잘 보세요.
Gomawoyo. Jisu ssido siheom jal boseyo.
Thank you. Good luck with your exam too, Jisu.
행운을 빌어요 offers goodwill before an uncertain result. 시험 잘 보세요 is more specific: it wishes the listener a good performance on the exam. Both fit the same moment, but only the first explicitly mentions luck.
Wishes on Cards and Encouragement in Conversation
행운을 빌어요 suits a personal message before an exam, interview or competition. The more formal 행운을 빕니다 can appear in a written wish or a public closing message. The noun does not change; the verb ending changes the level of formality. Neither expression promises that the result will be good.
For casual encouragement, people also use 파이팅. That expression encourages effort or confidence, while 행운을 빌어요 wishes someone good fortune. English “good luck” can cover both purposes. Thinking about whether you want to encourage the person or wish them a favorable outcome helps you choose the Korean phrase.
What Do Lucky-Item Phrases Mean?
행운의 숫자 literally means “number of good fortune”, giving the English phrase “lucky number”. The same linking 의 appears in 행운의 부적, “lucky charm”. The wording describes the significance someone gives an object. It does not establish that the object changes what happens.
행운이 따르다 pictures good fortune as something that follows a person. In a wish, it expresses the hope that circumstances turn out well. 행운을 빌다 instead focuses on the person doing the wishing. Notice the markers: 행운이 makes luck the subject of “follow”, and 행운을 makes luck the object of “wish for”.
운이 좋다 is a common way to say someone is lucky. It combines the general noun 운 with “good”. 운이 나쁘다 describes bad luck. 행운 already carries the positive sense, so the shorter 운 is useful when comparing favorable and unfavorable chance.
| Korean | Meaning | How it connects to luck |
|---|---|---|
| 불운 | misfortune / bad luck | Names unfavorable chance, in contrast to 행운. |
| 우연 | coincidence / chance | Describes something unplanned without calling it fortunate. |
| 기회 | opportunity | Names a chance to act, rather than luck itself. |
| 응원 | support / encouragement | Expresses backing for someone's effort. |
The emotions vocabulary lesson helps distinguish the happiness someone feels from the good fortune they experience. A lucky event can make someone happy, but 행운 and 행복 name different parts of that situation.
Quick Self-Test
- Which word explicitly means good fortune: 행운 or 행복?
- Does 우연 always describe something lucky?
- What is the difference between 파이팅 and 행운을 빌어요?
Show answers
- 행운. 행복 means happiness.
- No. A coincidence can be pleasant, unpleasant or neutral.
- 파이팅 encourages the person; 행운을 빌어요 wishes them good fortune.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say "luck" in Korean?
Luck in Korean is 행운 (haeng-un), a noun for luck or good fortune.
How do I wish someone luck?
Say 행운을 빌어요.
Is 행운 the same as 행복?
No. 행복 is happiness, while 행운 is luck.
What is the difference between 행운 and 운?
운 is general luck, good or bad, while 행운 is good luck.
How do I say "lucky number"?
Say 행운의 숫자.
Related Words and What to Learn Next
- Theme list: Korean emotions vocabulary places 행운 near happiness and other feelings.
- Index: Korean words A to Z lists every single-word entry.
- Compare: happiness is the word it is confused with.
- See also: secret is another abstract noun to learn next.
- Practice: vocabulary flashcard decks lets you add 행운 to a spaced-repetition set.