| The number 13 is considered unlucky for many in the | | | | The number 7 is popular for some, as it sounds like |
| West. | | | | the word 'complete'. In Mandarin, it can also mean |
| Not so for many Chinese! | | | | wife. So 517 can mean 'I want a wife'; as the number |
| Just like Westerners, Chinese do share a love of | | | | 5 sounds like 'I' and the number 1 sounds like 'want'. |
| lucky numbers and other superstitious beliefs, | | | | 514, on the other hand, would not be popular, as the |
| although in quite a different manner. | | | | number 4 sounds like the word 'death', and the |
| It is part of the Chinese culture. You'll be surprised to | | | | number could imply 'I want to die'. |
| see how they are willing to part with tens or even | | | | Not every number can be generalized. It depends on |
| hundreds of thousands of dollars, simply to obtain | | | | whether the person is interpreting it from Mandarin or |
| lucky telephone or car-plate numbers. | | | | one of the several Chinese dialects. |
| The telephone number 8888-8888 is said to have | | | | In addition to sound, numbers can also be interpreted |
| sold for nearly $300,000 in Chengdu, a southwest | | | | from other angles. |
| Chinese city. The Beijing Olympics 2008, on the other | | | | For example, the number 18 is popular. This is |
| hand, opened on August 8, 2008 (08-08-08) at 8:08 | | | | because the number 1 -- when positioned in tens -- |
| p.m. | | | | sounds like 'definite'. The number 18, which is |
| The obsession with numbers takes place not only in | | | | pronounced as shiba in Mandarin, becomes 'definitely |
| China, but also other cities like Hong Kong, Kuala | | | | prosperous'. On the other hand, some may see 18 as |
| Lumpur and Singapore. Do not try competing for | | | | '1 plus 8', which adds up to the lucky number 9. The |
| numbers such as 8 in any of these cities. Chances are | | | | number, therefore, is also in high demand. |
| that you will be out-beaten, if your pocket is not | | | | Avoid the number 4 nevertheless. It is thought to be |
| deep enough! | | | | unlucky for many. This is because, as we mentioned |
| Chinese like to link numbers to pronunciations of the | | | | earlier, it sounds like death in Mandarin and several |
| associated words. They first see how a number is | | | | dialects. |
| sounded, then associate it to words that share similar | | | | Why is the number 13 lucky then? |
| pronunciation and interpret the number from there. | | | | The digit 1 when positioned in tens sounds like the |
| The number 8 is tremendously popular, because it is | | | | word 'definite' (shi) in Mandarin and dialects such as |
| pronounced close to the sound 'fa', which is how | | | | Cantonese; while the digit 3 sounds like life, living or |
| words like prosperity and fortune are pronounced in | | | | birth. |
| the language. As a result, when they see the number | | | | As a result, the number 13, which is pronounced as |
| 8, they will associate it with prosperity and fortune. | | | | shisan in Mandarin, can mean 'definitely vibrant' or |
| For the same token, the number 9 is a lucky number. | | | | 'assured growth'. |
| It can mean enough or arrive. The number 6 is | | | | So how can 13 be an unlucky number? |
| popular as well, as it implies happy and smooth. | | | | |