The numbers everyone wants
Chinese number superstition mostly comes down to sound, not math. Many numbers are lucky or unlucky simply because they sound like another word — a phone number, license plate, or wedding date with the « right » digits is genuinely seen as a small advantage in life.
8
WEALTH
MOST LUCKYSounds almost identical to 发 (fā), « to generate wealth. » The single most desired digit in China — phone numbers and license plates packed with 8s sell at a real premium.
9
LONGEVITYSounds like 久 (jiǔ), « long-lasting. » The largest single-digit odd number, historically linked to emperors and eternity — still common in gold purity marks like 999.
6
SMOOTHNESSLinked to 顺 (shùn), « smooth » or « without obstacles, » as in the popular saying 六六大顺 — « everything goes smoothly. »
2
TOGETHERNESSEven numbers in general are considered more auspicious than odd ones, and 2 specifically reflects the idea that good things come in pairs.
Numbers that combine into phrasesCombinations carry their own meaning beyond the individual digits: 520 and 521 sound like « I love you, » 1314 sounds like « forever, » and 168 sounds like « a smooth road to wealth. » You’ll see these constantly in marketing, gifts, and red envelope amounts.
The number everyone avoids
4
SOUNDS LIKE « DEATH »
MOST AVOIDED四 (sì) sounds close to 死 (sǐ), « death. » It’s avoided in phone numbers, car plates, gift quantities, and floor numbers — many buildings skip straight from 3 to 5, or relabel the 4th floor as « 3A. »
7
ASSOCIATED WITH THE DEADLinked to ghosts and funerals — the 7th lunar month is the « Ghost Month, » and gifts are traditionally never given in sets of seven.
An interesting wrinkle: 666 means something different to foreignersIn China, « 666 » online is actually a compliment, roughly meaning « smooth, » « skilled, » or « awesome » — the opposite of its association with evil numerology in the West. Don’t be confused if you see it everywhere in livestream chat comments.
Gifts to think twice about
Most of these taboos come from the same place as the unlucky numbers — a gift’s name sounds like something bad, even if the object itself is perfectly nice.
Clocks & Watches
SOUNDS LIKE A FUNERAL送钟 (« giving a clock ») sounds identical to 送终, the phrase for attending someone’s final moments. Considered the single biggest gift taboo, especially for older relatives.
Pears
SOUNDS LIKE « LEAVING »梨 (lí, pear) sounds like 离 (lí), « to part » or « leave. » Avoid giving pears to couples or close friends in particular.
Umbrellas
SOUNDS LIKE « SCATTER »伞 (sǎn) sounds like 散 (sàn), meaning to scatter or break up — an odd thing to symbolically give a friendship or relationship.
Shoes
SOUNDS LIKE « EVIL »鞋 (xié) sounds like 邪 (xié), « evil » or « inauspicious. » Also seen as suggesting the other person will « walk away » from you.
Other common ones worth knowingSharp objects like knives or scissors imply « cutting off » a relationship. Mirrors are linked to bad luck and breakage. Handkerchiefs are associated with funeral farewells. And wallets, oddly, are seen as risky to give — it’s said to symbolically hand over your « money luck » along with the object.
