Lucky Numbers (吉利数字)

Unlucky Number (不吉利数字)

🔢 The Number 2 (二)


🎲 The Number 6 (六)


🍀 Lucky Number 8 (八)


👑 Lucky Number 9 (九)


💀 Unlucky Number 4 (四)


🔢 Number Combinations


📊 Numbers 1-100 Guide


🌎 Western vs Chinese

Chinese Lucky Numbers Culture Podcast

💡 Key Insight: Number 2 symbolizes pairs, harmony, and balance in Chinese culture. Extremely auspicious for weddings with “double happiness” (囍). Can be negative in Northern China, where “er” implies foolishness.

Wedding Significance: In Chinese weddings, the double happiness symbol (囍) is prominently featured, following ancient marital customs.

• 比翼双飞 (Bǐ Yì Shuāng Fēi) – “Flying wing to wing,” representing lifelong devotion between couples
• 才貌双全 (Cái Mào Shuāng Quán) – Describes someone both talented and attractive
• Yin and Yang (阴阳) – Balance between two forces essential for universal harmony

In Northern China, “Er” can describe someone as foolish or reckless:

• 二百五 (Er Bǎi Wǔ) – Two hundred and fifty, implies poor judgment
• 你太二了 (nǐ tài èr le) – “You are so silly/ridiculous/stupid”

520 (wǔ èr líng) resembles the pronunciation of 我爱你 (wǒ ài nǐ) – “I love you”

• 520 Day – May 20th has become China’s modern Valentine’s Day
• Digital Romance – Couples send ¥520 through apps as symbolic love expressions
• Social Media Trend – Popular way to declare love online and in text messages

💡 Key Insight: Number 6 represents flow, smoothness, and ease. The popular phrase “六六大顺” means “everything goes smoothly.” Modern internet culture often uses “666” to convey the meaning of “awesome” or “cool.”

• “六六大顺” (liùliù dàshùn) – Expression wishing for everything to go smoothly
• Phone Numbers – Highly sought after for containing 6
• License Plates – Premium prices paid for numbers with 6
• Business Addresses – Preferred for commercial success
• 66th Birthday – Especially meaningful, symbolizing longevity and fortune

In contemporary Chinese internet slang, “666” has evolved to mean:

• “Awesome” or “Cool” – Used to praise someone’s skill
• Gaming Excellence – A Common compliment for impressive gameplay
• Social Media – Popular response to impressive achievements

In Chinese gaming slang, “老六” (Old Six) describes someone who acts slyly or uses underhanded tactics. While often humorous, it can carry derogatory connotations depending on context – like a player who hides and waits for the perfect moment to strike.

💡 Key Insight: Number 8 is THE luckiest in Chinese culture. Pronunciation “bā” resembles “发” (fā) meaning “prosper/wealth.” The Beijing Olympics started at 20:08 on 08/08/2008. The shape resembles the infinity symbol (∞).

Why 8 is Universally Lucky:

• Cantonese Connection – “baat” (8) and “faat” (fortune) sound nearly identical
• Infinity Symbol – Shape resembles ∞, symbolizing endless prosperity
• Beijing Olympics 2008 – Started precisely at 20:08 on 08/08/2008
• Premium Pricing – Phone numbers, house numbers, and license plates with 8 cost more

Popular Number Combinations with 8:

• 518 – “Wǒ Yào Fā” (我要发) – “I want to prosper”
• 88 – “Bā Bā” sounds like “bye-bye” in messaging
• 888 – Triple luck and prosperity
• 8888 – Ultimate good fortune expression

168 is highly auspicious, sounding like “一路发” (yī lù fā) – “prosperity all the way”:

• 1 (yī) – “One” or “continuous”
• 6 (liù) – “Flowing” or “smooth”
• 8 (bā) – “Prosper” or “wealth”

Together, meaning: Continuous and smooth progress toward financial success

Important Note: Numbers that add up to 8 (like 5+3=8 or 1+7=8) are NOT considered lucky. The luck comes from the phonetic connection to “fā,” not mathematical relationships. Only the actual digit 8 carries the prosperity symbolism.

💡 Key Insight: Number 9 symbolizes longevity and imperial power. Pronounced “jiǔ,” it sounds like “久” (everlasting). Historically associated with emperors (“九五之尊”). Popular in expressing eternal love – 999 roses symbolize forever.

Historical Significance:

• “九五之尊” (Jiǔ Wǔ Zhī Zūn) – Phrase referring to emperors, where 9 symbolized supreme status
• Ultimate Yang Number – Represents nobility, authority, and supremacy
• Forbidden City Design – Said to have 9,999 rooms, reflecting the emperor’s desire for eternal rule
• Palace Architecture – Nine-tiered structures symbolizing connection to heaven

Romantic Significance:

• 99 or 999 Roses – Valentine’s Day tradition symbolizing eternal love
• Wedding Red Packets – ¥9,999 or ¥99,999 given to the bride’s family for a lasting marriage
• “天长地久” (tiān cháng dì jiǔ) – “As enduring as heaven and earth”
• 1999 Wedding Boom – Surge in marriages during the year 1999 for lasting luck

• Building Design – Nine-story pagodas and towers for spiritual significance
• Business Launches – Companies choose the 9th day of the 9th month for openings
• Anniversary Celebrations – 9th wedding anniversary is especially meaningful
• Investment Amounts – ¥9,999 or ¥99,999 considered auspicious for business partnerships

The phrase “九如” (Jiǔ Rú) represents nine poetic blessings for enduring happiness:

⚠️ Key Insight: Number 4 is considered extremely unlucky because “sì” (four) sounds like “死” (sǐ), meaning death. Buildings skip 4th, 14th, 24th floors. However, combinations like 1314 can create positive meanings.

Common Avoidance Practices:

• Building Floors – Hotels, hospitals, apartments skip 4th, 14th, 24th floors
• Phone Numbers – People pay extra to avoid numbers containing 4
• License Plates – Premium charged for plates without 4
• Hospital Room Numbers – Rooms 4, 14, 24, often renamed or avoided
• Table Numbers – Restaurants often skip table 4 for banquets

Some regions now view 4 differently due to the musical note connection:

• Musical “Fa” – In do-re-me scale, “fa” sounds like “发” (fā), meaning “to prosper”
• Regional Variations – Some areas consider 4 lucky for wealth associations
• Generational Differences – Younger Chineseare  sometimes less superstitious about 4

1314 – Romantic Exception:

• Pronunciation – “yī sān yī sì” sounds like “一生一世” (yī shēng yī shì)
• Meaning – “For a lifetime” or “forever”
• Widespread Usage – Wedding dates, anniversary gifts, romantic messages
• Digital Romance – Common in online love declarations and social media

🧠 Cultural Quiz: Test Your Knowledge

Why do many Chinese buildings skip the 4th floor, but Western buildings skip the 13th?

Click to reveal answer 🤔

Both cultures avoid numbers due to phonetic similarities to negative concepts. Chinese “四” (sì) sounds like “死” (death), while Western 13 has historical associations with bad luck (Last Supper, Friday the 13th). This shows how language and culture shape superstitions!

Numbers 1-10
Most Searched Numbers

1

Neutral

Unity, Beginning

2

Lucky ✓

Pairs, Double Happiness

3

Mixed

Sounds like “Life” (生)

4

Unlucky ✗

Sounds like “Death” (死)

5

Neutral

Five Elements (五行)

6

Lucky ✓

Smooth (顺)

7

Neutral

Togetherness

8

Super Lucky ✓✓

Prosperity (发)

9

Lucky ✓

Eternal (久)

10

Neutral

Perfect (十全十美)

Numbers 11-20
Common Queries

11

Neutral

Double 1

12

Neutral

Complete Cycle

13

Neutral

Not unlucky in China

14

Unlucky ✗

Contains 4

15

Neutral

Halfway

16

Lucky ✓

Contains 6

17

Neutral

Regular

18

Lucky ✓

Sure Prosper (要发)

19

Neutral

Regular

20

Neutral

Double 10

Special Numbers (66, 88, 99, 168, etc.)
Popular Combinations

28

Lucky ✓

Easy Prosper

66

Lucky ✓

Very Smooth

68

Lucky ✓

Smooth Wealth

88

Super Lucky ✓✓

Double Wealth

99

Lucky ✓

Double Long

168

Super Lucky ✓✓

一路发

💡 Key Difference: Western number symbolism often comes from religious or historical events, while Chinese meanings are primarily based on pronunciation similarities (homophones).

Unlucky 13

• Friday the 13th – Associated with bad luck
• Last Supper – 13 people present before the crucifixion
• Buildings – Many skip the 13th floor
• Triskaidekaphobia – Fear of the number 13

Chinese view: NOT unlucky at all – only 4 is avoided

Is 7 a lucky number in Chinese culture?
⚠️

Number 7 (七 qī) has mixed meanings in Chinese culture. While it’s considered very lucky in Western culture,
in Chinese it’s more neutral. However, 7 is associated with togetherness – the Qixi Festival (七夕) or Chinese Valentine’s Day
falls on the 7th day of the 7th lunar month. In some regions, 7 sounds like “起” (qǐ), meaning “arise” or “together,”
giving it positive connotations.

Why do Chinese people pay more for phone numbers with 8?
💰

Phone numbers with multiple 8s can cost thousands of dollars extra because 8 (八 bā) sounds identical to 发 (fā)
meaning “prosper” or “wealth.” A phone number like 138-8888-8888 could sell for over ¥100,000 (about $15,000 USD).
Businesses, in particular, value these numbers as they believe they foster customer trust and success. The more 8s in
sequence, the higher the price – with 8888 being the most valuable pattern.

Is 13 unlucky in Chinese culture, like in the West?
✅

No, 13 is NOT unlucky in Chinese culture. The Chinese unlucky number is 4, not 13. In fact, 13
can be considered neutral or even positive in some contexts. The number 13 (十三 shí sān) has no negative
sound associations in Chinese. This is purely a Western superstition that doesn’t translate to Chinese culture.
However, some international hotels in China skip both the 4th AND 13th floors to accommodate both Chinese and
Western guests.

What does 666 mean in Chinese internet culture?
🎮

In Chinese internet slang, 666 (liù liù liù) means “awesome,” “cool,” or “skilled.” This comes from
the number 6 (六 liù) sounding like 溜 (liū) meaning “smooth” or “slick.” When gamers see an impressive play,
they’ll type “666” in chat. It’s the opposite of Western culture, where 666 has negative connotations. Triple 6
In Chinese culture, it represents something flowing super smoothly or someone being very skilled at what they do.

How seriously do young Chinese people take number superstitions?
🤔

While younger generations may be less superstitious, number symbolism remains surprisingly strong. A 2023 survey
showed that 73% of Chinese millennials still prefer phone numbers without 4, and 89% would pay extra for numbers
with 8. However, they’ve also created new meanings, such as 520 for “I love you.” The difference is that young
people treat it more as a cultural tradition and fun wordplay rather than a strict belief, but they still follow
These preferences in important life decisions like choosing wedding dates or business launches.

Can the number 4 ever be lucky in Chinese culture?
💕

Yes, in specific combinations! While 4 alone is avoided, 1314 (yī sān yī sì) sounds like
“一生一世” meaning “for a lifetime,” making it romantic. Some musicians also associate 4 with the musical
note “fa,” which sounds like prosperity. Additionally, in particular Chinese dialects, 4 can have different
pronunciations that don’t sound like death. However, these are exceptions – most Chinese still strongly
avoid the number 4 in isolation.

Quick Reference: Number Meanings

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Whether you’re doing business in China, dating someone Chinese, or simply want to understand this
fascinating culture better, number symbolism affects everything from real estate prices to wedding dates.