How do you say "good luck" in Japanese? In reference to business
specifically. As in wishing a Japanese person good luck on a business
transaction. Thanks.
Remove "No Spam" from e-mail address before replying

In article >, Lori Lee
> wrote:

> How do you say "good luck" in Japanese? In reference to business
> specifically. As in wishing a Japanese person good luck on a business
> transaction.

I don't know but I know there is a constant use of "gambat-te,
kudasai", meaning please "do your best", "forge on", "work hard" and a
generally positive encouragement to achieve your goal. It's not the
same thing exactly, but it's as close as I know. Maybe they are not as
great in hoping for luck as they are for depending on hard work.

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reference to sake.

"Lori Lee" > wrote in message
...
> How do you say "good luck" in Japanese? In reference to business
> specifically. As in wishing a Japanese person good luck on a business
> transaction. Thanks.
> Remove "No Spam" from e-mail address before replying

This is a tough one, because in Japasnese one normally does not say "good
luck" under such
circumstances.
As Gerry correctly pointed out, there is a difference in perception as
regards the role of "luck"
in an endeavor which requires effort. When I first took a written exam in
the US as a teenager, the test sheet
had "Good Luck!" written on it. I remember wondering just exactly what kind
of luck I should be hoping for...
perhaps that the teacher would get drunk, lazy, and mark all the papers A+??
In Japan, one would say "ganbatte" (or "ganbatte ne" or "ganbatte kudasai")
to someone about to take a test,
or as in your example someone off to secure a business contract. "Ganbatte"
means to "try very hard"
or to "persevere".
One might also say "Seikou wo negaimasu" (I pray for success).
Naturally there are words which mean "Good Luck" in Japanese, for example,
"Kou-un wo negaimasu" (I pray for good luck (for you)) however this wouldn't
be used
in your original context.

M

"Musashi" > wrote:
> "Lori Lee" > wrote in message
>
> > How do you say "good luck" in Japanese? In reference to business
> > specifically. As in wishing a Japanese person good luck on a business
> > transaction. Thanks.
> > Remove "No Spam" from e-mail address before replying
>
> This is a tough one, because in Japasnese one normally does not say "good
> luck" under such
> circumstances.
> As Gerry correctly pointed out, there is a difference in perception as
> regards the role of "luck"
> in an endeavor which requires effort. When I first took a written exam in
> the US as a teenager, the test sheet
> had "Good Luck!" written on it. I remember wondering just exactly what
> kind of luck I should be hoping for...
> perhaps that the teacher would get drunk, lazy, and mark all the papers
> A+?? In Japan, one would say "ganbatte" (or "ganbatte ne" or "ganbatte
> kudasai") to someone about to take a test,
> or as in your example someone off to secure a business contract.
> "Ganbatte" means to "try very hard"
> or to "persevere".
> One might also say "Seikou wo negaimasu" (I pray for success).
> Naturally there are words which mean "Good Luck" in Japanese, for
> example, "Kou-un wo negaimasu" (I pray for good luck (for you)) however
> this wouldn't be used
> in your original context.
>
This response of yours is another example of why I love to read your posts.
Now, don't get a swell head, but your ability to build an image of the
cultural framework out of which phrases and concepts arise, is wonderful.
Your sense of humor also delights me. e.g. ". . . what kind of luck I
should be hoping for... perhaps that the teacher would get drunk, lazy, and
mark all the papers A+??" ;-D

Go kuro-san!

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On a sidenote, the equivalent of "ganbatte" in Chinese to some extent
is an expression translated as "add oil", which basically means the
same thing. Try harder by adding more spiritual oil for your physical
engine, work harder to do well towards your goal.