合格祈願(ごうかくきがん)

ごうかくきがん
noun
prayer for passing an exam; wish for exam success
educationreligion
1. prayer for passing an exam; wish for exam success
A prayer or wish offered at a shrine or temple to pass an entrance exam or certification test. Expressed through visiting shrines, buying good-luck charms, or writing on votive tablets.
合格祈願(ごうかくきがん)のお守(まも)りをもらった。
I received a good-luck charm for passing exams.
受験(じゅけん)前日(ぜんじつ)に合格祈願(ごうかくきがん)に神社(じんじゃ)へ行(い)った。
The day before the exam, I went to a shrine to pray for success.
合格祈願(ごうかくきがん)の絵馬(えま)に志望校(しぼうこう)の名前(なまえ)を書(か)いて奉納(ほうのう)した。
I wrote the name of the school I hoped to attend on a votive tablet for exam success and dedicated it.

Combines 合格(ごうかく) (passing, success) + 祈願(きがん) (prayer, supplication). A very common ritual for Japanese students, especially those taking university entrance exams.

Common collocations

Cultural note

Shrines dedicated to Tenjin (天神(てんじん)), the deified scholar 菅原道真(すがわらのみちざね), are popular destinations for students seeking blessings before exams.

Related Words

Related: 学業成就(がくぎょうじょうじゅ) (academic success)
general
Added 2026.6.11 4:36 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02
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