The number four (四 sì) is notoriously avoided in many contexts due to its pronunciation being similar to the word for “death” (死 sǐ). This superstition is so strong that many buildings in China skip the fourth floor, similar to the way some Western buildings skip the thirteenth floor.
Eight is Fortunate:
Conversely, the number eight (八 bā) is considered extremely lucky because its pronunciation is close to the word for “prosper” or “wealth” (发 fā). This belief in its auspiciousness was vividly illustrated when the Beijing Olympics were scheduled to start at 8:08 pm on 08/08/2008.
Homophonic Nuances:
Beyond four and eight, other numbers are also considered lucky or unlucky based on their pronunciation. For example, the number nine (九 jiǔ) sounds like “long-lasting” (久 jiǔ) and is often associated with longevity, making it favorable for weddings and other joyous occasions.
Cultural Influence in Bargaining:
When bargaining or setting prices, numbers are chosen not just for their economic but also their phonetic implications. For instance, a price ending in eight might be more readily accepted due to its positive connotations, whereas a price involving four could be harder to settle upon due to its negative associations.
Did you know about these nuances or this is as jaw dropping for you as it is for me?
666 – “cool” or “nice”. 666 (pinyin: liùliùliù) represents 溜溜溜 (pinyin: liùliùliù); or smooth/slick (comes from Chinese gaming slang, where gamers would put ‘666’ in the chat after seeing another showing an impressive skill)
About 666, I’ve seen people in variety shows use the hand gesture for 6, moving the hand three times to signify ‘really cool’ , but it was a few years ago and I don’t know if it is still used today
In Vietnam, we try to avoid having many 4s in phone numbers, license plates. We prefer 8s and 9s, which are associated with luck and wealth. Phone numbers or license plates containing many 8s or 9s can sell for a lot of money.
Just like back home, lots of streets don’t have a number 13 house!
