Chinese Lucky and Unlucky Numbers: Why 4 Is Death and 8 Is Rich
Why do Chinese buildings skip floor 4? Why did the Beijing Olympics start at 8:08:08? The fascinating world of Chinese number superstitions explained.
5 sections
1It's All About How They Sound
Chinese number superstitions are based on homophones — numbers that sound like lucky or unlucky words. Since Chinese has so few syllables, there are TONS of these coincidences. And Chinese culture takes them very, very seriously. We're talking 'spend millions extra on a phone number' seriously.
24 (四 sì) = Death (死 sǐ)
(four) sounds almost identical to (death). The result? Many Chinese buildings skip the 4th floor entirely (like Western buildings skip 13). Some skip 14, 24, 40-49 as well. Phone numbers and license plates with 4 are cheaper. Gift-giving in fours is a major faux pas. This is called 'tetraphobia' and it's REAL.
38 (八 bā) = Get Rich (发 fā)
(eight) sounds like (to prosper/get rich). So 8 is the ultimate lucky number. The Beijing Olympics started at exactly 8:08:08 PM on 08/08/2008. A phone number with all 8s sold for millions. License plates with 888 cost a fortune. Business owners FIGHT over addresses with 8.
gōng xǐ fā cái
Wishing you prosperity (the classic New Year greeting)
4520 = I Love You
520 sounds like (wǒ ài nǐ = I love you). So May 20th (5/20) has become a second Valentine's Day in China. People transfer exactly ¥5.20 or ¥520 to their partners on WeChat as a romantic gesture. Even money is a love language.
5Other Number Meanings
6 ( liù) = smooth/awesome ( liū). 9 ( jiǔ) = long-lasting ( jiǔ), used in weddings. 7 ( qī) = togetherness or anger depending on dialect. 250 ( èr bǎi wǔ) = idiot/fool (this one has a historical origin, not a homophone). 1314 = forever ( yī shēng yī shì). So 5201314 = 'I love you forever'. Chinese people text this.
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