How to say "luck" in Japanese

• 幸せしあわせJLPT N3approx.Common
  noun, na-adjectiveIt means happiness first of all; its 'luck' sense is really good fortune or blessing, so it fits wishes for a happy life more than luck as chance.
  金持かねもちが幸しあわせとは限かぎらない。↗

  The rich are not always happy.
• 運うんJLPT N3approx.Common
  nounThe word for luck as chance or fortune, good or bad; when you mean luck itself — winning, losing, chance events — this is the one to reach for.
  遅おそかれ早はやかれ、彼かれの運うんは尽つきるだろう。↗

  Sooner or later, his luck will run out.
• 幸いさいわいJLPT N3approx.Common
  noun, na-adjectiveLuck as blessing or a fortunate state; it is also very often used adverbially to mean 'fortunately', so it frequently renders 'luckily' rather than naming luck as a thing.
  あなたがここに居いたのは幸さいわいでした。↗

  You were fortunate to be here.
• 運勢うんせいCommon
  nounLuck viewed as a person's overall fortune — how their luck stands or is heading — the kind that gets read or predicted, as in horoscopes, rather than a single stroke of chance.
  私は運勢うんせいを占うらなってもらった。↗

  I had my fortune told.
• 冥利みょうりCommon
  nounSeldom the word you want for luck: it really means providence or a favor one feels barely deserving of, so it turns up in humble, grateful remarks rather than talk of chance.

For luck as chance or fortune, 運 is the default; 「幸せ」 and 「幸い」 lean toward happiness and blessing, 運勢 treats luck as a person's overall fortune, and 冥利 is a humble word for providential favor.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 幸せしあわせhappiness
• 運うんfortune
• 幸いさいわいhappiness
• 運勢うんせいfortune
• 冥利みょうりprovidence
• ラックluck
• 果報かほうgood fortune
• 天運てんうんdestiny
• 回り合わせまわりあわせ(turn of) fortune
• 僥倖ぎょうこう(stroke of) luck
• 巡り合わせめぐりあわせfortune
• 巣くうすくうto lodge (in one's mind; of an evil thought, delusion, etc.)
• つきluck
• 具合ぐあいcircumstance