吉星高照
吉星高照 (jí xīng gāo zhào) literally means “a lucky star shines high above” and expresses “may good fortune shine on you”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving life philosophy.
Also searched as: ji xing gao zhao, ji xing gao zhao,吉星高照 meaning, 吉星高照 in english
May good fortune shine on you
Pronunciation: jí xīng gāo zhào Literal meaning: A lucky star shines high above
Origin & Usage
One of the standard Chinese New Year blessings, seen on greeting cards, spring couplets (春联) and red envelopes. 吉星 is an auspicious star — in traditional astrology, stars were believed to govern fortune, and a lucky star overhead meant protection and success — and 高照 means shining from on high. Unlike many blessings, this one has no classical source: dictionaries cite it only from twentieth-century writing, and it lives mainly in everyday use. Say it to wish someone a year in which luck is on their side, and pair it with 万事如意 or 心想事成 for a full greeting.
Examples
English: "On the card she wrote: may your lucky star shine high all year."
Chinese: 新春佳节，祝您吉星高照，万事顺心。
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about life philosophy
吉祥如意
jí xiáng rú yì
Good fortune and fulfilment
Learn more →
吉祥止止
jí xiáng zhǐ zhǐ
Blessings settle where the mind is calm
Learn more →
寥若晨星
liáo ruò chén xīng
Very rare
Learn more →
三阳开泰
sān yáng kāi tài
A fortunate new beginning
Learn more →
喜气洋洋
xǐ qì yáng yáng
Radiating happiness
Learn more →
洋洋大观
yáng yáng dà guān
A rich and impressive array
Learn more →
万事如意
wàn shì rú yì
May everything go the way you want
Learn more →
心想事成
xīn xiǎng shì chéng
May your wishes come true
Learn more →
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 吉星高照 mean in English?
吉星高照 (jí xīng gāo zhào) literally translates to “A lucky star shines high above” and is used to express “May good fortune shine on you”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Life Philosophy category.
When is 吉星高照 used?
Situation: On the card she wrote: may your lucky star shine high all year.
What is the pinyin for 吉星高照?
The pinyin pronunciation for 吉星高照 is “jí xīng gāo zhào”.