The short version: In Chinese culture, a number is lucky or unlucky based on what it sounds like. 8 (八 bā) sounds like "to prosper" (发 fā) → very lucky. 4 (四 sì) sounds like "death" (死 sǐ) → very unlucky. This isn't a niche superstition — it affects building floor numbers, license plate prices, gift-giving rules, and even the date of the Beijing Olympics.
The unluckiest number: 4 (四 sì)
The word for four — 四 sì — is a near-homophone of the word for death — 死 sǐ. The tones are different (4th tone vs 3rd tone), but they're close enough to trigger what linguists call taboo homophony: the number inherited the word's dark meaning.
This is called tetraphobia, and it's widespread enough to shape the physical world:
- Elevators skip the 4th floor — button panels jump from 3 to 5. The 14th and 24th floors are also often omitted. In some buildings, floors 40-49 are replaced with "3A, 3B..."
- License plates with a 4 are cheaper — a plate ending in 444 might cost nothing, while one ending in 888 could be auctioned for $10,000+.
- Never give a gift as a set of four — a set of four teacups or four flowers reads as "death gift." Sets of two or eight are preferred.
- Hospitals rarely use 4 in room numbers — for obvious reasons: nobody wants bed 44 in ward 4.
That said, 4 isn't universally hated. In some regional traditions, it's neutral or even positive — and younger, urban Chinese care less about it than their grandparents did.
The luckiest number: 8 (八 bā)
八 bā (eight) sounds like 发 fā — a verb that means "to prosper," "to get rich," or "to develop." It's the most beloved number in Chinese culture, and people pay real money for it.
The most famous example: the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics opened at exactly 8:08 PM on August 8, 2008 (8/8/08). That wasn't a coincidence — it was chosen for maximum 8s to signal prosperity and good fortune for the nation.
- Phone numbers with 8s cost more — a number ending in 88888 is a status symbol, like a vanity plate in the West. Telecom companies auction premium "lucky numbers" for serious money.
- Wedding dates are chosen for 8s — August 8th is one of the most popular wedding dates in China. The 8th day of any month is also popular.
- Business names often include 8 — a shop called "88 Supermarket" or a brand using 888 is signalling prosperity.
- 88 in texting means "bye bye" — from English (bā bā ≈ bye bye), making it friendly and lucky at once.
How to say them
| Chinese | Pinyin | Meaning | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 八 | bā | eight — lucky, prosperity | |
| 发 | fā | to prosper / to get rich (the word 8 sounds like) | |
| 四 | sì | four — unlucky, sounds like death | |
| 死 | sǐ | death (the word 4 sounds like) | |
| 九 | jiǔ | nine — lucky, "long-lasting" | |
| 六 | liù | six — lucky, "smooth" (and 666 = awesome) |
Other lucky numbers (and one to be careful with)
9 (九 jiǔ) — long-lasting. Sounds like 久 jiǔ ("a long time, everlasting"). Couples love 99 (together forever) and 999 (eternity). The downside: 9 is also associated with the Emperor in ancient China (the Forbidden City was said to have 9,999 rooms), so it can feel a bit formal.
6 (六 liù) — smooth. Sounds like 溜 liù ("smooth, flowing, skilled"). 66 means "everything goes smoothly." And as covered in our 666 guide, three 6s mean "awesome" — the opposite of the Western devil association.
3 (三 sān) — living, birth. Sounds like 生 shēng ("to be born, to live"). Generally neutral-to-positive.
7 (七 qī) — tricky. Unlike the West, where 7 is lucky, in Chinese it's mixed. It sounds like 欺 qī ("to cheat or bully"), so some avoid it. But July is the 7th month and nobody panics. More notably, the 7th month of the lunar calendar is Ghost Month — a traditionally unlucky time when spirits roam. So 7 carries a slight spooky association.
Number combinations that mean whole phrases
This is where Chinese number culture gets especially creative — string digits together and they "read" as a sentence:
| Numbers | Sounds like | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 520 | wǔ èr líng ≈ wǒ ài nǐ | "I love you" |
| 1314 | yī sān yī sì ≈ yīshēng yīshì | "forever / for a lifetime" |
| 88 | bā bā ≈ bye bye | "bye!" (texting, also lucky) |
| 168 | yī liù bā ≈ yī lù fā | "prosperity all the way" (a lucky business number) |
| 518 | wǔ yī bā ≈ wǒ yào fā | "I want to get rich" |
| 7456 | qī sì wǔ liù ≈ qì sǐ wǒ le | "I'm so angry!" (internet slang) |
Does this actually matter in modern China?
Yes — but less than it used to. Among older generations, it's deeply ingrained. My university building in China had no 4th floor, and when I gave a friend a hóngbāo (red envelope) with 40 yuan once, they looked at me like I'd served raw chicken at a wedding.
Among younger Chinese — especially urban professionals under 35 — it's more of a cultural reflex than a genuine belief. They'll still avoid a 4-heavy phone number (resale value!) and appreciate an 888 gift amount, but they don't lose sleep over it. Think of it like the Western "knock on wood" — people do it without necessarily believing in it.
That said, in business, it still matters a lot. A company launching a product on a date full of 8s is good PR. A product priced at ¥444 would be marketing suicide. And as noted, premium phone numbers and license plates with lucky digits remain a real secondary market.
Practice Chinese numbers with audio →Master 1-99 in Mandarin with our free interactive tool. Tap any number to hear it spoken — learn to spot the lucky (and unlucky) digits by ear.
Quick tip: counting with hand gestures
Chinese speakers often use one-handed number gestures for 1-10 — and they're different from Western gestures. For example, 8 is shown by extending the thumb and index finger (like an "L" shape). These gestures are useful in noisy markets, and knowing them makes you look less like a tourist. You'll find them in our numbers tool.
FAQ
Why is 4 considered unlucky in Chinese culture?
The word for four (四 sì) sounds almost identical to the word for death (死 sǐ) — they differ only by tone. Because of this near-homophone, the number 4 is widely avoided: buildings skip the 4th, 14th, and 24th floors, people avoid phone numbers and license plates containing 4, and giving gifts in sets of four is a serious faux pas.
What is the luckiest number in Chinese culture?
The luckiest number is 8 (八 bā), because it sounds like 发 fā — "to prosper" or "to get rich." The 2008 Beijing Olympics opened at 8:08 PM on August 8th (8/8/08) for exactly this reason. Combined 8s (like 88 or 888) mean double or triple prosperity.
Do younger Chinese people still believe in lucky numbers?
Most younger Chinese treat it as a cultural habit rather than literal belief — like knocking on wood in the West. But they'll still avoid giving gifts of 4, happily receive hóngbāo (red envelopes) with lucky amounts like 520 or 888, and notice when a phone number has good or bad digits. The superstition is fading but far from gone.