幸亏

• Pinyin: xìng kuī
• Hanzi breakdown: 幸 = fortunate; 亏 = 工 + 亏 variant (classical usage: fortunate causation, distinct from its modern meaning of 'deficit')

Meaning

Fortunately; it was lucky that; thanks to good fortune that a bad outcome was avoided.

Similar to 幸好 but slightly more formal and often implies a greater degree of relief. More commonly followed by a causal explanation. Used in both spoken and written registers.

Examples

1. 幸亏当时有人在场迅速拨打了急救电话，患者才得以转危为安。 Fortunately, someone at the scene quickly called emergency services, and the patient was able to pull through.
2. 幸亏她事先做了充分的准备，面试时才能从容不迫，表现出色。 Fortunately, she prepared thoroughly ahead of time, so she was calm and composed in the interview and performed excellently.
3. 幸亏司机反应敏捷紧急制动，避开了突然闯入道路的行人。 Fortunately, the driver reacted quickly and braked hard, avoiding a pedestrian who suddenly stepped into the road.

Usage Guide

Context: narrative, news, spoken Chinese

Tone: relieved

Do Say

• 幸亏老师提前告知了考试范围，同学们才能有针对性地系统复习。(Fortunately the teacher informed students of the exam scope in advance, allowing them to revise in a targeted and systematic way.)
• 幸亏这栋建筑经过了抗震加固，才在强烈地震中未发生严重结构损坏。(Fortunately this building had been seismically reinforced and suffered no serious structural damage in the powerful earthquake.)

Don't Say

• 幸亏他没通过考试 — like 幸好, 幸亏 expresses the speaker's relief at avoiding misfortune; using it to celebrate someone's failure conveys inappropriate satisfaction

Origin & History

幸 (fortunate/lucky) + 亏 (classical particle indicating fortunate causation) — 'it was fortunate that...'

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal