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A2 noun 8 Min. Lesezeit

运气

yunqi

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Erklärung 运气 in your Level:

At the A1 level, you should know that '运气' (yùnqi) means 'luck.' You will mostly use it in very simple sentences to describe your day or a specific event. The most important thing to remember is that it's a noun. You will use it with '好' (hǎo, good) or '不好' (bù hǎo, not good). For example, if you find a coin on the street, you can say '我运气好' (Wǒ yùnqi hǎo). If you lose your keys, you can say '我运气不好' (Wǒ yùnqi bù hǎo). Think of it as a label for how things are going for you at the moment. Don't worry about complex grammar yet; just focus on the 'Subject + 运气 + Adjective' pattern. It's a great way to express feelings about daily events without needing a huge vocabulary.

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At the A2 level, you can start using '运气' in slightly more descriptive ways. You might use adverbs like '真' (zhēn, really) or '非常' (fēicháng, very) to emphasize your luck. You also learn that '运气' can be the subject of a sentence. For example, '运气很重要' (Luck is very important). You should also be able to understand the phrase '碰运气' (pèng yùnqi), which means to 'try one's luck.' This is useful when you are doing something uncertain, like asking someone for a favor or entering a competition. You are beginning to see that luck is a common topic in Chinese social interactions, and using this word helps you sound more natural when reacting to news from friends.

At the B1 level, you should understand the nuance between '运气' and related words like '机会' (jīhuì, opportunity). You'll start using '运气' in complex sentences with conjunctions like '虽然...但是...' (suīrán... dànshì..., although... but...). For example, '虽然我很有实力，但有时候也需要一点运气' (Although I have strength/skill, sometimes I also need a bit of luck). You will also encounter the word in more varied contexts, such as work or health. You might hear people discuss '运气' in a more philosophical way, questioning whether success is due to effort or luck. This is also the stage where you should correctly use '走运' (zǒuyùn) as a verb-object phrase meaning 'to be lucky' in informal speech.

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At the B2 level, your understanding of '运气' should include its cultural implications. You realize that attributing things to luck is a form of modesty. You can use '运气' in abstract discussions about economics, history, or social trends. You might use phrases like '运气使然' (yùnqi shǐrán, dictated by luck) or '全凭运气' (quán píng yùnqi, entirely dependent on luck). You should be comfortable using the word in both formal and informal registers. You also begin to recognize '运气' in idioms and more sophisticated literature, where it might be contrasted with '天命' (tiānmìng, mandate of heaven). Your ability to use '运气' to navigate social situations—such as deflecting a compliment—shows a higher level of cultural fluency.

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At the C1 level, you can explore the deeper etymological roots of '运气'—the movement (运) of energy (气). You can discuss the concept in the context of traditional Chinese philosophy, such as the I Ching or Feng Shui. You are able to distinguish between '运气,' '命运,' '时运,' and '造化' with precision. You might write essays or give presentations where you analyze the role of luck in success, using '运气' as a sophisticated thematic element. You can understand puns and wordplay involving '运气' in media and literature. Your usage is indistinguishable from a native speaker, as you pick up on the subtle emotional weight the word carries in different dialects and social circles.

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At the C2 level, you have a masterly grasp of '运气.' You can interpret classical texts where the components '运' and '气' are used separately or in archaic combinations. You can engage in deep philosophical debates about the ontological nature of luck versus free will in Chinese thought. You understand how '运气' functions in the subconscious of the Chinese-speaking world, influencing everything from architecture to corporate strategy. You can use the term with irony, sarcasm, or profound sincerity, perfectly matching the tone of any high-level discourse. You are not just using a word; you are manipulating a core cultural concept to express complex, multi-layered ideas.

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Jetzt üben Beispiele Notizen & Tipps

运气 in 30 Sekunden

A common noun meaning luck or fortune, used to describe random events.
Rooted in the idea of 'moving energy' (Yun + Qi).
Frequently used to express modesty or to explain unexpected outcomes.
Essential for social interactions and understanding Chinese views on success.

The Chinese word 运气 (yùnqi) is a fascinating concept that translates most directly to 'luck' or 'fortune' in English. However, its roots go much deeper into the traditional Chinese worldview of energy and movement. In daily conversation, it is the go-to term for describing why things go well or poorly beyond one's immediate control. Whether you found a parking spot right in front of the mall or missed the last bus by a second, a Chinese speaker would likely attribute this to their 运气. It is used across all social strata, from high-stakes business negotiations to simple playground games.

Core Meaning: The literal breakdown is '运' (yùn), meaning movement or transport, and '气' (qì), meaning air, breath, or vital energy. Together, they suggest a 'movement of energy' that dictates one's circumstances.
Contextual Usage: Commonly paired with adjectives like '好' (hǎo - good) or '不好' (bù hǎo - bad). It is often used to deflect praise (attributing success to luck rather than skill) or to console someone after a failure.

他的运气一直很好，总是能中奖。(His luck has always been good; he always wins prizes.)

In Chinese culture, luck isn't just random chance; it's sometimes seen as something that can be cultivated or influenced by one's environment (Feng Shui) or actions. When someone says '碰运气' (pèng yùnqi), they are literally 'bumping into luck' or 'trying their luck.' This reflects a proactive yet humble approach to the unknown. You might hear this word at a casino, during a job search, or even when discussing the weather for a planned outdoor wedding. It bridges the gap between the mundane and the mystical.

别太难过，这只是运气问题。(Don't be too sad; this is just a matter of luck.)

Synonym Distinction: While '幸运' (xìngyùn) is often used as an adjective meaning 'fortunate,' '运气' is strictly a noun representing the force of luck itself.

Understanding '运气' involves recognizing that for Chinese speakers, the world is in constant flux. The 'qì' (energy) is always moving ('yùn'). Therefore, luck is not a static trait but a temporary state of alignment. If you have 'bad luck' today, the 'qì' might move in your favor tomorrow. This philosophical undertone provides a sense of hope and resilience in the face of adversity.

Using 运气 (yùnqi) correctly requires understanding its grammatical role as a noun. Unlike English, where 'luck' can sometimes feel like an abstract concept, in Chinese, '运气' is often treated as a possession or a quality that can be 'good,' 'bad,' 'smooth,' or 'rotten.' The most basic structure is [Subject] + [运气] + [Adjective].

Standard Pattern: Subject + (的) + 运气 + 好/不好. Example: 我今天的运气非常好。(My luck today is very good.)

你运气真不错，赶上了最后一班车。运气 (You are really lucky; you caught the last bus.)

Another common way to use '运气' is with the verb '靠' (kào), which means 'to rely on' or 'to depend on.' This is frequently heard when discussing exams, business, or sports, where people debate how much of the result was due to effort and how much was due to luck. For instance, '成功不仅要靠努力，还要靠运气' (Success depends not only on hard work but also on luck).

In more informal settings, you might hear the verb '走' (zǒu - to walk/go) used with '运气.' The phrase '走运' (zǒuyùn) is a very common verb-object construction meaning 'to be in luck' or 'to have a stroke of luck.' Conversely, '倒霉' (dǎoméi) is the more common way to say 'bad luck,' but you can still say '运气太差' (luck is too poor).

碰碰运气吧，万一成功了呢？(Try your luck; what if it succeeds?)

Common Verbs with 运气: 1. 讲 (jiǎng) - to emphasize/care about luck. 2. 碰 (pèng) - to try/chance upon luck. 3. 靠 (kào) - to rely on luck.

In the real world, 运气 (yùnqi) is ubiquitous. If you are in a Chinese-speaking environment, you will hear it in various social contexts. One of the most common places is around the gaming table. Whether it's a friendly game of Mahjong (麻将) or a round of cards, players will constantly comment on their '运气.' If someone is winning consistently, others might say '你的运气太旺了' (Your luck is too 'fire'/prosperous).

今天打牌运气不好，输了一百块。(Bad luck playing cards today; lost 100 yuan.)

You will also hear it frequently in the workplace. When a colleague gets a promotion or a project goes surprisingly well, they might modestly say '是运气好' (It was just good luck) to avoid appearing arrogant. This is a crucial social lubricant in Chinese culture, where 'saving face' and maintaining harmony are important. Attributing success to '运气' ensures that those who didn't succeed don't feel personally slighted by your superior ability.

Education is another major domain. Students often talk about '运气' regarding exams. They might hope for '运气好' to get questions they studied for or to have a lenient grader. Even in TV dramas and movies, characters often lament their '运气' when faced with unexpected plot twists. It's a word that encapsulates the unpredictable nature of life, making it a staple of both high-brow literature and low-brow street slang.

考试的时候，运气也很重要。(When taking exams, luck is also very important.)

Specific Scenarios: 1. Lottery/Gambling. 2. Sports (a lucky shot). 3. Traffic (missing a red light). 4. Dating (meeting the right person at the right time).

The most frequent mistake learners make with 运气 (yùnqi) is confusing it with the adjective 幸运 (xìngyùn). In English, 'luck' and 'lucky' are related but distinct parts of speech. In Chinese, '运气' is the noun (luck), while '幸运' can be an adjective (lucky) or a noun (fortune). You cannot use them interchangeably in all structures.

Mistake 1: Wrong Part of Speech: Incorrect: *我很运气 (Wǒ hěn yùnqi). Correct: 我运气很好 (Wǒ yùnqi hěn hǎo) or 我很幸运 (Wǒ hěn xìngyùn).

Another mistake is using '运气' to mean 'destiny' in a grand, fatalistic sense. While '运气' deals with the short-term or specific instances of fortune, the word 命运 (mìngyùn) is used for one's overall fate or life path. Saying '这是我的运气' when referring to your life's tragic purpose would sound strange; you should use '命运' instead.

不要把失败都归结于运气。(Don't attribute all failures to luck.)

Learners also sometimes forget that '运气' needs a modifier. Just saying '我有运气' (I have luck) is grammatically acceptable but sounds incomplete to a native ear. It's much more natural to say '我有好运气' or '我运气不错.' Finally, avoid using '运气' for things that are clearly the result of skill. If you win a chess match through brilliant strategy, calling it '运气' might actually sound like you're insulting your own hard work or your opponent's skill, depending on the tone.

While 运气 (yùnqi) is the general term for luck, Chinese has several other words that cover specific aspects of fortune. Understanding the nuances between these can significantly elevate your fluency.

幸运 (xìngyùn): Often translated as 'lucky' or 'fortunate.' It carries a more positive, almost blessed connotation. You wouldn't usually say 'bad xìngyùn,' whereas 'bad yùnqi' is very common.
命运 (mìngyùn): Refers to 'fate' or 'destiny.' This is the 'big picture' luck—the course of your entire life, which is often seen as predetermined.
缘分 (yuánfèn): A unique Chinese concept often translated as 'fateful coincidence' or 'karmic connection.' It is used specifically for relationships and meetings between people.

我们能见面真是缘分，不仅仅是运气。(Our meeting is truly 'yuanfen,' not just luck.)

Another interesting alternative is 手气 (shǒuqì). This literally means 'hand luck' and is used exclusively in gambling or games where you use your hands to draw cards or roll dice. If you keep drawing good tiles in Mahjong, people will say your 'shǒuqì' is good. If you are talking about general life events, you stick to 'yùnqi.'

Finally, '福气' (fúqi) refers to 'good fortune' or 'blessings,' often associated with a comfortable life, a happy family, or longevity. While '运气' can be good or bad, '福气' is almost always positive and is something people wish for each other during festivals.

How Formal Is It?

Wusstest du?

In ancient times, '运气' was often associated with the movement of celestial bodies and how they influenced the 'qì' on Earth, making it a proto-scientific/astrological term.

Aussprachehilfe

UK /jùn.tɕʰi/

US /jùn.tɕʰi/

Primary stress on the first syllable 'yùn'.

Reimt sich auf

尽力 (jìnlì) 亲戚 (qīnqi) 天气 (tiānqì) 生气 (shēngqì) 客气 (kèqi) 力气 (lìqi) 放弃 (fàngqì) 机器 (jīqì)

Häufige Fehler

Pronouncing 'qi' as 'chi' (like chair). It should be a 'ts' sound followed by a soft 'ee'.
Missing the 4th tone on 'yùn' and making it flat.
Pronouncing the 'u' like 'boot' instead of the rounded 'ü'.

Schwierigkeitsgrad

Lesen 2/5

The characters are common and easy to recognize for beginners.

Schreiben 3/5

The character '运' has a 'walking' radical which takes a bit of practice.

Sprechen 2/5

Pronunciation is straightforward, but the neutral tone on 'qi' needs attention.

Hören 2/5

Very common in daily speech, easy to pick out in context.

Was du als Nächstes lernen solltest

Voraussetzungen

好 (good) 不 (not) 我 (I) 天 (day/sky) 走 (walk)

Als Nächstes lernen

幸运 (fortunate) 命运 (destiny) 机会 (opportunity) 成功 (success)

Fortgeschritten

缘分 (karmic fate) 冥冥之中 (in the unseen) 造化弄人 (fate plays tricks)

Wichtige Grammatik

Noun as Predicate Modifier

我[运气]很好。 (My luck is good - standard Chinese structure where the noun functions as part of the predicate description.)

Verb-Object Phrases (VO)

走[运] (To walk/be in luck). This is a common VO structure.

Reduplication of Verbs

碰[碰]运气 (Try luck a bit). Reduplication softens the tone.

Attribute with '的'

好[的]运气 (Good luck). Using 'de' to link the adjective and noun.

Emphasis with '真/太'

运气[真]好 / 运气[太]差。

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Beispiele nach Niveau

我运气好。

I have good luck.

Subject + Noun + Adjective.

他运气不好。

He has bad luck.

Adding '不' to negate the adjective.

你有运气吗？

Do you have luck?

Simple question with '吗'.

今天运气不错。

Luck is not bad today.

Using '不错' (not bad) as a positive modifier.

运气很重要。

Luck is very important.

Luck as the subject.

那是运气。

That is luck.

Identifying the cause.

好运气！

Good luck!

Common exclamation.

没运气了。

No luck left.

Using '没' to indicate lack.

我的运气真不错。

My luck is truly not bad.

Using '真' for emphasis.

你总是运气很好。

You always have very good luck.

Using '总是' (always).

我想碰碰运气。

I want to try my luck.

Verb '碰' (to bump/try).

运气不好也没关系。

It doesn't matter if luck is bad.

Using '也没关系' (it's okay).

这不只是运气。

This is not just luck.

Negating '只是' (just/only).

祝你好运气。

Wish you good luck.

Standard 'Wish' structure.

运气帮了我。

Luck helped me.

Luck as an active agent.

他的运气太差了。

His luck is too poor.

Using '太...了' for extreme poor luck.

成功需要实力，也需要运气。

Success requires strength, and also luck.

Balanced sentence with '也'.

我运气好，买到了最后一张票。

I was lucky and bought the last ticket.

Compound sentence showing cause/effect.

别只靠运气，要多努力。

Don't just rely on luck; work harder.

Using '靠' (rely on).

他觉得运气比什么都重要。

He feels luck is more important than anything.

Comparison structure '比...都'.

运气好的话，我们明天能到。

If luck is good, we can arrive tomorrow.

Conditional '...的话'.

碰运气并不能保证成功。

Trying your luck doesn't guarantee success.

Using '并不' for strong negation.

你这次运气真够好的。

Your luck this time is quite good enough.

Using '够...的' for emphasis.

运气这种东西很难说。

Luck is something that is hard to say/predict.

Using '这种东西' to treat luck as an abstract concept.

运气使他躲过了那场灾难。

Luck enabled him to escape that disaster.

Using '使' (to cause/enable).

他把一切都归功于运气。

He attributed everything to luck.

Using '归功于' (attribute success to).

有时候运气也是实力的一部分。

Sometimes luck is also a part of one's strength.

Abstract philosophical statement.

运气转好之后，他的生意红火了。

After his luck turned for the better, his business flourished.

Using '转好' (turn for the better).

不要因为运气不好就灰心。

Don't lose heart just because of bad luck.

Using '因为...就' in a negative advice context.

运气这种偶然因素不容忽视。

The accidental factor of luck cannot be ignored.

Formal vocabulary like '不容忽视'.

他似乎总能碰到好运气。

He seems to always be able to run into good luck.

Using '似乎' (seems).

运气是不可预测的变量。

Luck is an unpredictable variable.

Academic tone.

运气固然重要，但长久的成功离不开勤奋。

Luck is admittedly important, but long-term success is inseparable from diligence.

Using '固然...但' (admittedly... but).

他感叹自己运气不佳，怀才不遇。

He lamented his poor luck and that his talents went unrecognized.

Using literary terms like '怀才不遇'.

运气在历史的转折点起到了关键作用。

Luck played a key role at the turning points of history.

Formal historical analysis.

我们不能把希望全部寄托在运气上。

We cannot place all our hopes on luck.

Using '寄托在...上' (place/rely on).

运气往往是留给有准备的人的。

Luck is often reserved for those who are prepared.

Sophisticated proverb-like structure.

他这辈子的运气都花在遇见你这件事上了。

All the luck of his life was spent on the event of meeting you.

Poetic/Romantic exaggeration.

运气的好坏往往具有某种周期性。

The quality of luck often has a certain cyclical nature.

Scientific/Philosophical observation.

运气与机遇往往交织在一起。

Luck and opportunity are often intertwined.

Using '交织' (intertwined).

某种程度上，运气是概率论在人生中的具象化。

To some extent, luck is the embodiment of probability theory in life.

Highly abstract and academic.

他试图通过哲学辩论来否定运气的存在。

He tried to negate the existence of luck through philosophical debate.

Advanced vocabulary like '具象化' and '否定'.

运气之神似乎格外垂青这个年轻人。

The god of luck seems to particularly favor this young man.

Using personification and literary '垂青'.

在资本原始积累阶段，运气往往扮演了灰色角色。

In the stage of primitive capital accumulation, luck often played a 'grey' (ambiguous) role.

Socio-economic analysis.

运气与宿命论之间的界限在文学中往往是模糊的。

The boundary between luck and fatalism is often blurred in literature.

Literary criticism tone.

他对此番成败的总结，充满了对运气的敬畏。

His summary of this success or failure was full of awe for luck.

Using '敬畏' (awe/reverence).

运气不过是尚未被理解的因果律。

Luck is nothing more than a law of causality that has not yet been understood.

Metaphysical assertion.

我们应当审慎地看待运气在个人成就中的权重。

We should cautiously view the weight of luck in individual achievement.

Using '审慎' (cautious/prudent).

Häufige Kollokationen

运气好

运气差

碰运气

靠运气

讲运气

有运气

没运气

转运气

运气旺

运气佳

Häufige Phrasen

走运

— To be in luck; to have a stroke of good luck.

他真是走运，刚毕业就找到了好工作。

不走运

— To be out of luck; to have bad luck.

真不走运，我刚到站，车就开了。

碰碰运气

— To try one's luck; to take a chance.

虽然希望不大，但我还是想去碰碰运气。

全凭运气

— Entirely dependent on luck.

这场比赛我们能赢，全凭运气。

运气使然

— Dictated by luck; because of luck.

他能逃过一劫，完全是运气使然。

运气问题

— A matter of luck.

输了也没办法，这是运气问题。

运气不佳

— Poor luck (more formal than '运气不好').

由于运气不佳，他的计划失败了。

好运连连

— Good luck coming one after another (often a wish).

祝你新的一年好运连连！

时来运转

— One's luck changes for the better after a long period of bad luck.

经过多年的努力，他终于时来运转了。

运气成分

— The element of luck; how much luck was involved.

这次成功里，运气成分占了很大比例。

Wird oft verwechselt mit

运气 vs 幸运

幸运 is usually an adjective (lucky), while 运气 is a noun (luck). You say '我运气好' but '我很幸运.'

运气 vs 命运

命运 is 'destiny' or 'fate' (long-term), while 运气 is 'luck' (short-term/specific).

运气 vs 机会

机会 is 'opportunity.' You can have an opportunity without luck, but '运气' often brings '机会.'

Redewendungen & Ausdrücke

"时来运转"

— When the time comes, luck turns. It describes a change in fortune from bad to good.

只要不放弃，总有时来运转的一天。

Formal/Inspirational

"否极泰来"

— When misfortune reaches its limit, prosperity comes. A sophisticated way to talk about luck's cycle.

现在虽然困难，但请相信否极泰来。

Literary

"天有不测风云"

— The sky has unpredictable winds and clouds. Used to describe sudden bad luck or accidents.

天有不测风云，谁能想到会发生这种事？

General

"吉人天相"

— Good people are helped by heaven. Implies that good people will have good luck.

他一定会没事的，吉人天相嘛。

Warm/Traditional

"顺水推舟"

— To push the boat with the current. To take advantage of a lucky situation.

既然运气这么好，我们就顺水推舟吧。

Strategic

"天助我也"

— Heaven is helping me! An exclamation used when something extremely lucky happens.

真是天助我也，最难的问题居然没考！

Dramatic

"因祸得福"

— To get a blessing from a disaster. When bad luck turns into good luck.

他虽然丢了工作，却因此找到了更好的，真是因祸得福。

Common

"塞翁失马"

— The old man at the border lost his horse. A famous story about how luck is unpredictable and can change.

塞翁失马，焉知非福？

Literary/Philosophical

"万事如意"

— May all things go as you wish. A common New Year wish involving general luck.

祝大家新年快乐，万事如意！

Greeting

"大吉大利"

— Great luck and great prosperity.

开工大吉，祝公司大吉大利！

Business/Festive

Leicht verwechselbar

运气 vs 气力

Both contain '气'.

气力 means physical strength or effort, while 运气 means luck.

他花了很多气力才搬动桌子。

运气 vs 运气 (yùnqì)

Same characters, different tone on 'qi'.

When 'qi' is 4th tone, it can mean to direct one's 'qi' in martial arts/qigong.

练功前要先运气。

运气 vs 福气

Both mean a type of good fortune.

福气 is specifically about blessings and a happy life; 运气 is more about random chance.

长寿是一种福气。

运气 vs 运气球

Specific term.

In sports, it means a 'fluke' or 'lucky shot.'

那个进球只是个运气球。

运气 vs 运势

Very similar meaning.

运势 refers to the trend or 'forecast' of luck (often in astrology).

看一看你明年的运势。

Satzmuster

S + 运气 + Adj

我运气好。

S + 运气 + 真/太 + Adj

他运气太差了。

靠 + 运气

我们只能靠运气。

碰 + 运气

我想去碰碰运气。

运气 + 使 + Subject + VP

运气使他成功了。

把...归结于 + 运气

别把失败归结于运气。

运气 + 固然...但...

运气固然重要，但实力更关键。

运气 + 之于 + A + 犹如 + B

运气之于成功，犹如东风之于周瑜。

Wortfamilie

Substantive

运气 (luck)

运势 (fortune/trend)

命运 (destiny)

气数 (fate/destined span)

Verben

运用 (to apply/use)

运行 (to operate/run)

走运 (to be lucky)

转运 (to change one's luck)

Adjektive

幸运 (lucky)

倒霉 (unlucky)

倒运 (unlucky/out of luck)

Verwandt

机会 (opportunity)

缘分 (fate)

机遇 (chance)

福气 (blessing)

风水 (feng shui)

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frequency

Extremely frequent in daily life, especially in social and recreational contexts.

Häufige Fehler

Using '运气' as an adjective. → 我运气很好 (Wǒ yùnqi hěn hǎo).
Learners often say '我很运气' because they translate 'I am lucky' literally. In Chinese, 'luck' is a noun you 'have' or that 'is good.'
Confusing '运气' and '命运'. → 这是我的命运 (This is my destiny).
Don't use '运气' for life-long fate. '运气' is for specific events or short-term luck.
Incorrect tone on 'qi'. → yùnqi (neutral tone).
Pronouncing it as 'yùnqì' (4th tone) can change the meaning to 'circulating energy' in martial arts.
Using '幸运' where '运气' is needed. → 全靠运气 (All depends on luck).
You can't say '全靠幸运' because '幸运' is an adjective. Use the noun '运气' with verbs like '靠'.
Forgetting the '了' in exclamations. → 运气太好了！
In Chinese, '太...了' is a fixed structure for emphasis. Leaving out '了' sounds incomplete.

Tipps

Modesty is Key

When someone praises you, say '是运气好' to sound humble and polite in Chinese culture.

Avoid 'Very Luck'

Never say '很运气.' Always use '运气很好' or the adjective '幸运.'

Learn the VO

Learning '走运' (zǒuyùn) will make your spoken Chinese sound much more natural and idiomatic.

Red for Luck

Remember that '运气' is visually associated with the color red and the number 8 in Chinese culture.

Neutral Tone

Listen for the soft 'qi' at the end; if it's too sharp, it might mean something else (like directing energy).

Exclamations

Use '运气真好!' as a natural reaction to good news from your friends.

Formal Contexts

In essays, use '运气' when discussing factors outside of human control in historical or scientific contexts.

Moving Air

Remember: Movement (运) + Air (气) = The way the wind blows for you (Luck).

Mahjong Talk

If you play Mahjong, use '手气' for luck with tiles and '运气' for the overall game outcome.

Consolation

Use '这只是运气问题' to comfort a friend who failed despite trying their best.

Einprägen

Eselsbrücke

Imagine you are 'transporting' (运 - yùn) a bag of 'air' (气 - qi). If the bag is full, you have good luck; if it leaks, you have bad luck.

Visuelle Assoziation

Picture a wheel (运) blowing a gentle breeze (气) towards you. A good breeze brings good luck.

Word Web

Luck Energy Movement Fate Mahjong Gambling Modesty Success

Herausforderung

Try to go through a whole day and every time something small happens (good or bad), say '运气好' or '运气不好' in your head.

Wortherkunft

The word is composed of '运' (yùn) and '气' (qì). '运' originally meant to transport or move goods. '气' originally represented steam or breath, later evolving into the concept of vital energy.

Ursprüngliche Bedeutung: The movement of vital energy or the flow of cosmic breath that determines the state of the world and individuals.

Sino-Tibetan (Chinese).

Kultureller Kontext

Be careful not to dismiss someone's hard work by calling it 'just luck' (只是运气) unless you are the one being modest about your own success.

In English, 'luck' is often seen as random. In Chinese, '运气' often carries a subtle hint that it might be influenced by one's ancestors or past deeds (karma).

The concept of 'Qi' in Star Wars (The Force) is a Westernized version of the '气' in '运气'. Mahjong culture prominently features the term. Chinese New Year greetings often revolve around changing one's '运气'.

Im Alltag üben

Kontexte aus dem Alltag

Gambling/Games

手气好
碰运气
运气太旺了
输赢看运气

Job Hunting

运气不错
等运气
靠点运气
祝你好运

Daily Mishaps

运气不好
真倒霉
运气太差了
没运气

Exams

运气成分
碰碰运气
运气好考得好
运气也是实力

New Year/Festivals

好运连连
转运气
大吉大利
万事如意

Gesprächseinstiege

"你相信运气吗？ (Do you believe in luck?)"

"你最近运气怎么样？ (How has your luck been lately?)"

"你觉得成功是靠努力还是运气？ (Do you think success depends on effort or luck?)"

"你有没有过运气特别好的时候？ (Have you ever had a time when your luck was especially good?)"

"你今天运气好吗？ (Is your luck good today?)"

Tagebuch-Impulse

写一次你运气很好的经历。 (Write about an experience where you had very good luck.)

谈谈你对‘运气也是实力的一部分’这句话的看法。 (Talk about your views on the sentence 'Luck is also part of one's strength.')

如果你可以买到‘好运气’，你愿意花多少钱？ (If you could buy 'good luck,' how much would you be willing to pay?)

描述一个你觉得运气很差的一天。 (Describe a day where you felt your luck was very bad.)

你认为我们可以改变自己的运气吗？ (Do you think we can change our own luck?)

Häufig gestellte Fragen

10 Fragen

You can say '祝你好运' (Zhù nǐ hǎo yùn) or '祝你好运气' (Zhù nǐ hǎo yùnqi).

It is neutral. It can be used in casual conversation and in formal writing to describe probability or chance factors.

Yes, you just add '不好' or '差.' For example: '我运气很差' (My luck is very poor).

'走运' is more like 'to be in luck' (verb-like), while '运气好' is 'luck is good' (noun + adjective). They are very similar in meaning.

Yes, etymologically the '气' is the same energy. In Qigong, '运气' (yùnqì) means to circulate your internal energy.

No, that is a common mistake. You should say '我运气很好' or '我很幸运.'

You can say '新手的运气' (xīnshǒu de yùnqi).

It means 'to try one's luck' or 'to take a chance' on something uncertain.

Very. It's often used to explain success modestly and is a major part of traditional beliefs and festivals.

There isn't a single direct opposite, but '倒霉' (bad luck/rotten luck) is the most common way to express the opposite state.

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writing

Write a sentence in Chinese: 'My luck today is very good.'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Uses 'Subject + 的 + 运气 + Adverb + Adjective.'