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Q: "Luck" versus "Good Fortune" in Chinese culture?
I've tried to explain the concept of "luck" to a Chinese friend the other day and she didn't really agree/get it. She instead started telling me about "good fortune". Are these the same term here, or different? Do Chinese believe in luck or not?
flip the question.
If you win the lottery you are lucky. However, people might think that you have good fortune because you have done something. E.g. red is a positive color, carrying something red will bring you good fortune.
The way I understand the difference is that luck as know from the west does not exist, in Chinese culture, actions by you and people around you form your fortune.
If you get a cold, you might get asked "how did you get that", your answer would be "I guess I was unlucky to get sneezed on by someone" In my book bad luck, in the Chinese book you did wrong !
As everything happens for a reason, luck cannot exist.
