運（うん、un）
- luck

The Japanese word 運 (うん) primarily translates to "luck," "fate," "fortune," or "destiny." It refers to the circumstances that affect a person's life, especially those that are seemingly beyond their control. It can be a positive or negative force. 運 encompasses both the good and bad experiences that happen to someone. It can also describe the probabilities of success or failure.

⚫︎今日は運がいい。 Translation: I’m lucky today. ⚫︎運が悪かった。 Translation: My luck was bad. ⚫︎彼には運がある。 Translation: He has luck.

You can use 運 in various contexts to talk about good or bad fortune, the chances of something happening, or someone's fate. It is often used in situations where the outcome is uncertain or depends on external factors. Common phrases include things like "good luck," "bad luck," or describing someone as "lucky." Remember that it often signifies an element beyond one's control.

The word 運 is typically written with the kanji 運. The reading is うん in hiragana. There are no other common ways to write this word or variations in the okurigana.

⚫︎幸運(こううん) - good luck, fortune ⚫︎不運(ふうん) - bad luck, misfortune ⚫︎巡り合わせ(めぐりあわせ) - fate, destiny ⚫︎運命(うんめい) - fate, destiny

⚫︎不運(ふうん) - bad luck, misfortune ⚫︎災難(さいなん) - misfortune, disaster

試験に合格できて、本当に運が良かった。 ・Translation: I was really lucky to pass the exam. ・Explanation: This sentence uses 運 to express that the speaker feels they were fortunate to achieve a positive outcome (passing the exam).

彼らは運を天に任せた。 ・Translation: They left it to fate. ・Explanation: This sentence implies a passive acceptance of their destiny, entrusting it to a higher power (fate).

The kanji 運 combines the components of 辶 (しんにょう) which means "road", and 軍 (gun) which means "army", "troop", etc. Originally, it described the movement of goods or troops. Over time, the meaning expanded to encompass the idea of "moving" or "carrying" one's fate or luck. The modern meaning of 運 has developed from the idea of "moving" or "being moved" by destiny.