Numbers and sound
In Chinese culture, a number’s reputation usually comes from how it sounds, not from any mystical property of the number itself. Chinese has many words with the same or similar pronunciation, so a number can be heard as another word with a positive or negative meaning. If the other word is pleasant, the number is “lucky”; if it is unpleasant, the number is “unlucky.” The same process is the basis of many puns and riddles, which is why this article overlaps with the topic of wordplay.
This also means that beliefs can differ. A number that sounds like a lucky word in Cantonese may not do so in Mandarin, and the opposite is true too. Attitudes also vary by person: some people take these ideas seriously, some treat them as a bit of fun, and some ignore them. The descriptions below are common tendencies, not universal rules, and they say nothing about what actually happens in anyone’s life.
Numbers often seen as lucky
Eight (八, bā). Eight is the best-known lucky number. It sounds like 发 (fā), the character in words such as 发财 (fācái), “to get rich” or “to prosper.” In Cantonese, the match is even closer, which helps explain its popularity in Hong Kong and southern China. Eight appears in dates, addresses, and telephone numbers that people choose with care. The most widely discussed example is the opening of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, which began on 8 August at 8 minutes past 8 in the evening, a timing widely reported as chosen with the number in mind.
Six (六, liù). Six is associated with smoothness, as in the phrase 六六大顺 (“six-six, all goes smoothly”), because it sounds like 流 (liú), “to flow.” It is a popular number for wishes, and in some places it is linked with 禄 (lù), meaning official salary or good fortune.
Nine (九, jiǔ). Nine sounds like 久 (jiǔ), “long-lasting,” so it suggests longevity and permanence. It is also the highest single-digit number, and it has long been associated with the emperor, with imperial buildings and ritual objects using nine in their design. The Double Ninth Festival draws on the same sound, since people hope for long life. Nine is often a favored number for weddings because it suggests a lasting marriage.
Two (二, èr). There is a saying that good things come in pairs (好事成双), and even numbers are often preferred for gifts and celebrations. Double motifs are common in wedding decorations.
Three (三, sān). In Cantonese, three sounds close to 生 (sāang), “to live” or “to be born,” giving it a positive tone. In Mandarin, it sounds like 散 (sàn), “to scatter,” in some contexts, so the effect is mixed. Three also appears in many traditional groupings.
Numbers often seen as unlucky
Four (四, sì). Four sounds almost the same as 死 (sǐ), “death,” differing mainly in tone in Mandarin and similar in Cantonese. It is the most widely avoided number. Some buildings skip the fourth floor or other floors containing the digit, much as some Western buildings skip a thirteenth floor. Some people avoid giving gifts in sets of four, and car license plates or phone numbers containing 4 may be less in demand. How strictly this is followed varies enormously, and many people notice it only when it is pointed out.
Seven (七, qī). Seven has mixed associations. The seventh day of the seventh lunar month is the Qixi Festival, a romantic occasion, while the seventh lunar month is traditionally called the “ghost month,” when spirits are believed to wander, so some people avoid weddings and major purchases then. In some sayings, seven suggests anger or “rising air” (气, qì), so it is sometimes treated cautiously.
Five (五, wǔ). Five is tricky. It appears in many positive groupings: the five elements, the five blessings, the five directions. Yet it can also sound like 无 (wú), “nothing,” in some contexts, and in Cantonese it can be heard as the negative 唔. Opinions differ on whether it is lucky.
Number combinations
Combinations can also be meaningful. Examples:
- 168 is read in some Cantonese contexts as “road to prosperity,” from 一路发 (yī lù fā), “one road to prosperity.”
- 520 is read as “I love you” (我爱你), since 五二零 (wǔ èr líng) sounds like 我爱你 (wǒ ài nǐ). The 20th of May has become an informal day for expressing affection, especially among young people online.
- 1314 is read as 一生一世 (yī shēng yī shì), “a whole life, a lifetime,” often used in romantic messages.
- 888 and 666 are used to stress the effect of a single digit. In modern internet slang, 666 can mean “awesome” or “smooth.”
Such number slang is playful and changes quickly, and some phrases are mainly used by particular groups or in particular regions.
Where these beliefs show up
- Dates. Many couples choose wedding dates with lucky numbers and may also consult the traditional calendar. Weddings often draw on the lunisolar calendar for auspicious days.
- Addresses, phone numbers, and license plates. People may prefer numbers with eights and avoid fours, and such preferences can affect what they pay or choose.
- Gifts. Gifts of money or goods are often given in amounts and quantities considered auspicious, particularly in red envelopes.
- Architecture. Floor and room numbers sometimes skip or avoid unlucky digits.
- Business. Some businesses choose opening dates or names with lucky digits.
Keeping perspective
These beliefs are cultural conventions built on language, and they are a good example of how sound shapes meaning. They do not make any number actually lucky or unlucky, and no one should think of them as ways to influence outcomes. Many people hold them lightly, as a source of humor, tradition, and family ritual, and many others pay no attention. Among younger people, the beliefs are more likely to be treated as playful. When in doubt, you can simply follow the preferences of the people you are with, as a matter of courtesy.