Lucky Numbers<\/h2>\n8 \u516b<\/a> b\u0101<\/h3>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writtenchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/72f8ac5f-d742-4629-95e6-03c6916e97e7_lucky208888820car.jpg?resize=330%2C220&ssl=1\")
<\/p>\n
The number 8 is the luckiest number is Chinese culture. 8 in Chinese, is pronounced b\u0101, which rhymes with \u2018f\u0101\u2019 \u53d1<\/a><\/span>, as in \u53d1\u8d22<\/a><\/span>\u00a0(f\u0101 c\u00e1i), meaning \u2018to get rich\u2019. A common phrase used at Chinese New Year to bring about good fortune is \u2018\u516b\u516b\u5927\u53d1<\/a><\/span>\u2019 (b\u0101 b\u0101 d\u00e0 f\u0101) . Purchasable items with the number 8 can be more expensive, from simple things such as mobile numbers, to car registration plates<\/a><\/span>. It\u2019s possible that in ancient China, the number 8 was not considered lucky at all. There are several Chengyu, including \u4e03\u4e0a\u516b\u4e0b<\/a><\/span>\u00a0(q\u012b sh\u00e0ng b\u0101 xi\u00e0) which means \u2018all sixes and sevens\u2019, that suggest that the number 8 was not a positive number.\u00a0It may have only been within the last century, due to the influence of Hong Kongese culture, that mainland China adopted the number 8 as lucky.<\/p>\nMultiples of 2 (Except for 4)<\/h3>\n
Multiples of 2 bring harmony, so many decorative items within the home come in twos.<\/p>\n
Similarly to the number 2, the number 6 is also important for peace,\u00a0as it is connected to the word \u2018to run smoothly\u2019, \u987a\u5229<\/a><\/span>\u00a0(sh\u00f9n l\u00ec). A common phrase to wish someone luck, is \u516d\u516d\u5927\u987a<\/a><\/span>\u00a0(li\u00f9 li\u00f9 d\u00e0 sh\u00f9n). The number 10 is also lucky, and can be found in the Chengyu \u5341\u5168\u5341\u7f8e<\/a><\/span>\u00a0(sh\u00ed\u00a0qu\u00e1n\u00a0sh\u00ed m\u011bi)\u00a0meaning \u2018perfection\u2019.<\/p>\nOdd Numbers<\/h3>\n
There are several different origins of why multiples of 3 are important within Chinese culture. The simplest one being that the pronunciation of the number 3 in Chinese is s\u0101n, and sounds similar to the word for \u2018birth\u2019 \u751f<\/a><\/span>\u00a0(sh\u0113ng). According to Chinese culture, there are 3 significant events<\/a><\/span>\u00a0in a man\u2019s life: birth, marriage and death.<\/p>\nIn ancient Chinese culture, numbers ran from 1 to 9, and were then divided into 3 groups of 3. The number 3 became a strong number in China often meaning \u2018many\u2019. \u8bb8\u614e<\/a><\/span>\u00a0(x\u01d4\u00a0sh\u00e8n), author of \u8bf4\u6587\u89e3\u5b57<\/a><\/span>\u00a0(shu\u014d\u00a0w\u00e9n\u00a0ji\u011bz\u00ec) the\u00a0Original Han Dictionary, wrote that \u4e09 (s\u0101n)\u00a0or 3 was the \u2018sky, earth and human<\/a><\/span>\u2019, and that the Chengu \u6210\u8bed<\/a><\/span>\u00a0(ch\u00e9ng\u00a0y\u01d4) \u2018\u4e09\u7f04\u5176\u53e3<\/a><\/span>\u2019 (s\u0101n ji\u0101n q\u00ed k\u01d2u) meant \u2018to keep silent many times\u2019. He also referred to characters that come in three parts refer to many of something. For example, \u68ee<\/a><\/span>\u00a0(s\u0113n)\u00a0the character for \u2018forest\u2019 has 3 trees and means \u2018many trees\u2019. The character \u579a<\/a><\/span>\u00a0(y\u00e1o) meaning \u2018embankment\u2019\u2019 is made of three \u2018earth\u2019 \u571f<\/a><\/span>\u00a0(t\u01d4)\u00a0characters. A hill could be described as being \u2018much earth\u2019<\/p>\nEven Confucius valued the number 3<\/a><\/span>\u00a0when he said:<\/a><\/span>\u00a0\u2018Three people are walking together; at least one of them is good enough to be my teacher.\u2019<\/p>\nWithin\u00a0Buddhist culture, the number 3 represents Buddha. People toll the bell three times and use 3 sticks of incense when praying.<\/p>\n
There are many examples of 3\u2019s in China\u2019s history and culture, such as the Three Ancient Moral Guidelines, that taught rules on obedience, The Three Kingdoms of Wu, Wei and Shu, and a modern example of the Three Gorges Dam.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writtenchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/404799c3-6d74-40c4-a638-f9b403f81ed8_99920flowers.jpg?resize=450%2C374&ssl=1\")
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Based on the ancient Chinese tradition, the number 9 was the highest number and therefore the \u2018king\u2019 of numbers. The Emperor of China would be referred to as\u00a0\u4e5d\u4e94\u81f3\u5c0a <\/a><\/span>(ji\u01d4 w\u01d4 zh\u00ec z\u016bn) \u2018The King of Yesterday and Tomorrow\u2019 which originated from the idiom \u4e00\u8a00\u4e5d\u9f0e<\/a><\/span>\u00a0(y\u012b\u00a0y\u00e1n\u00a0ji\u01d4 d\u01d0ng) meaning \u2018one word is as heavy as nine tripods\u2019. The number 9 also sound a lot like the word for \u2018long\u2019 \u4e45<\/a><\/span>\u00a0(ji\u01d4)\u00a0and so 9 often represents longevity which is why there are 9,999 rooms in the Forbidden City in Beijing. It is also traditional for a boyfriend to send 99, or 999 roses to his beloved, although tragically pomelo<\/a><\/span>\u00a0or\u00a0condoms<\/a><\/span>\u00a0seem to have become a more popular way of expressing their ‘everlasting love’. Who said romance was dead?<\/p>\nUnlucky Numbers:<\/h2>\n4 \u56db<\/a><\/span>\u00a0(s\u00ec)<\/h3>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writtenchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/bf6d2629-b0aa-4930-9840-72e4212abe3a_building20missing20floor204.jpg?resize=400%2C300&ssl=1\")
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It could not get any worse than the number 4 \u56db (s\u00ec)\u00a0in Chinese culture, as it sounds remarkably like the word for death \u6b7b<\/a><\/span>\u00a0(s\u01d0). Many buildings will not have a 4th floor, and many people will stay away from rooms, dates or mobile phone numbers with 4s.<\/p>\nIn more recent years, people have tried to get away from the negative connotations of the number 4, by connecting it to the tone \u2018fa\u2019, in the \u2018do re mi fa\u2019 scale. Fa is the fourth <\/span>syllable in the scale and is now associated by some with \u53d1\u8d22<\/a><\/span>\u00a0(f\u0101 c\u00e1i) \u2018to get rich\u2019.<\/p>\nColours<\/h2>\nRed<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writtenchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/\u7ea2\u5305-red-packet.jpg?resize=550%2C279&ssl=1\")
<\/p>\n
The colour red is associated with happiness in Chinese culture and is used in celebrations from Chinese New Year to weddings<\/a><\/span>. If you wear, or are given something red, you will have good luck and fortune for the rest of the year. Traditionally, \u7ea2\u5305<\/a><\/span>\u00a0(h\u00f3ng\u00a0b\u0101o)\u00a0or \u2018red packets\u2019 are given at Chinese New Year with money inside, although nowadays they are given more liberally and are a popular \u2018gift\u2019 to give in the messenger service, WeChat. If the New Year brings in your zodiac, you might wear red underwear or clothing to ensure your year will be joyful.<\/p>\nThe only time red would not be seen as at a funeral, where it would be seen as disrespectful and extremely unlucky.<\/p>\n
Those of you interested in the stock market, may have noticed that the Chinese market has the reversal of colours. So, whilst in the western markets \u2018down\u2019 is red, in China red means positive, whilst green is negative.<\/p>\n
Black and White<\/h3>\n
White is a symbol of purity within Chinese culture, but is also often associated with mourning. Similarly, black, although a neutral colour would often be worn at a funeral. Black should definitely not be worn at a celebration, such as a wedding, or Chinese New Year.<\/p>\n
Home<\/h2>\n
Having your home face in the right direction is important for many Chinese people, even in the modern day. I have witnessed potential house hunters check the direction with a compass to make sure the \u98ce\u6c34 (f\u0113ng\u00a0shu\u01d0)\u00a0Feng Shui of the apartment is good. For good Feng Shui, Houses or apartments should NOT face to the north. However, there also seems to be some connection between the homeowners zodiac and which direction<\/a><\/span>\u00a0their home should face. The direction of your home is also practical; if your home faces the south, you will have more sun during the winter. Bearing in mind, Chinese houses and apartments do not have heating, this is very much needed!<\/p>\n![\"dragon-hole-building.jpg\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writtenchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/aa7778ce-8cf4-4f8e-ac50-1035bf7ae6b2_dragon-hole-building.jpg?w=900&ssl=1\")
<\/p>\n
Even city planning is based on Feng Shui: buildings built near mountains often have a hole cut out of them, to allow the \u2018dragon\u2019 to flow down the mountain and through the building, allowing for good Feng Shui.<\/p>\n
At Chinese New Year, traditions and superstitions become even more important, although they can differ dramatically between provinces in China and the north\/south divide.<\/p>\n
Before Chinese New Year, families will spring clean the home, but during the Chinese New Year period, no one sweeps or cleans the home<\/a><\/span>. Sweeping will get rid of the luck that Chinese New Year brings. In some provinces it is still traditional for both men and women not to wash their hair during this time for similar reasons.<\/p>\nGifts<\/h2>\n
When giving gifts to Chinese friends or potential in-laws<\/a><\/span>, it\u2019s important to consider the number you give (multiples of 3 are good, probably stay away from 4 of anything\u2026) but also the gift itself.<\/p>\nMonetary gifts given via WeChat would be a combination of lucky numbers, such as 6.66, 9.99 etc, or a popular homophone, such as 5.21 or 13.14<\/a><\/span>.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The number 8 is the luckiest number is Chinese culture. 8 in Chinese, is pronounced b\u0101, which rhymes with \u2018f\u0101\u2019 \u53d1<\/a><\/span>, as in \u53d1\u8d22<\/a><\/span>\u00a0(f\u0101 c\u00e1i), meaning \u2018to get rich\u2019. A common phrase used at Chinese New Year to bring about good fortune is \u2018\u516b\u516b\u5927\u53d1<\/a><\/span>\u2019 (b\u0101 b\u0101 d\u00e0 f\u0101) . Purchasable items with the number 8 can be more expensive, from simple things such as mobile numbers, to car registration plates<\/a><\/span>. It\u2019s possible that in ancient China, the number 8 was not considered lucky at all. There are several Chengyu, including \u4e03\u4e0a\u516b\u4e0b<\/a><\/span>\u00a0(q\u012b sh\u00e0ng b\u0101 xi\u00e0) which means \u2018all sixes and sevens\u2019, that suggest that the number 8 was not a positive number.\u00a0It may have only been within the last century, due to the influence of Hong Kongese culture, that mainland China adopted the number 8 as lucky.<\/p>\n Multiples of 2 bring harmony, so many decorative items within the home come in twos.<\/p>\n Similarly to the number 2, the number 6 is also important for peace,\u00a0as it is connected to the word \u2018to run smoothly\u2019, \u987a\u5229<\/a><\/span>\u00a0(sh\u00f9n l\u00ec). A common phrase to wish someone luck, is \u516d\u516d\u5927\u987a<\/a><\/span>\u00a0(li\u00f9 li\u00f9 d\u00e0 sh\u00f9n). The number 10 is also lucky, and can be found in the Chengyu \u5341\u5168\u5341\u7f8e<\/a><\/span>\u00a0(sh\u00ed\u00a0qu\u00e1n\u00a0sh\u00ed m\u011bi)\u00a0meaning \u2018perfection\u2019.<\/p>\n There are several different origins of why multiples of 3 are important within Chinese culture. The simplest one being that the pronunciation of the number 3 in Chinese is s\u0101n, and sounds similar to the word for \u2018birth\u2019 \u751f<\/a><\/span>\u00a0(sh\u0113ng). According to Chinese culture, there are 3 significant events<\/a><\/span>\u00a0in a man\u2019s life: birth, marriage and death.<\/p>\n In ancient Chinese culture, numbers ran from 1 to 9, and were then divided into 3 groups of 3. The number 3 became a strong number in China often meaning \u2018many\u2019. \u8bb8\u614e<\/a><\/span>\u00a0(x\u01d4\u00a0sh\u00e8n), author of \u8bf4\u6587\u89e3\u5b57<\/a><\/span>\u00a0(shu\u014d\u00a0w\u00e9n\u00a0ji\u011bz\u00ec) the\u00a0Original Han Dictionary, wrote that \u4e09 (s\u0101n)\u00a0or 3 was the \u2018sky, earth and human<\/a><\/span>\u2019, and that the Chengu \u6210\u8bed<\/a><\/span>\u00a0(ch\u00e9ng\u00a0y\u01d4) \u2018\u4e09\u7f04\u5176\u53e3<\/a><\/span>\u2019 (s\u0101n ji\u0101n q\u00ed k\u01d2u) meant \u2018to keep silent many times\u2019. He also referred to characters that come in three parts refer to many of something. For example, \u68ee<\/a><\/span>\u00a0(s\u0113n)\u00a0the character for \u2018forest\u2019 has 3 trees and means \u2018many trees\u2019. The character \u579a<\/a><\/span>\u00a0(y\u00e1o) meaning \u2018embankment\u2019\u2019 is made of three \u2018earth\u2019 \u571f<\/a><\/span>\u00a0(t\u01d4)\u00a0characters. A hill could be described as being \u2018much earth\u2019<\/p>\n Even Confucius valued the number 3<\/a><\/span>\u00a0when he said:<\/a><\/span>\u00a0\u2018Three people are walking together; at least one of them is good enough to be my teacher.\u2019<\/p>\n Within\u00a0Buddhist culture, the number 3 represents Buddha. People toll the bell three times and use 3 sticks of incense when praying.<\/p>\n There are many examples of 3\u2019s in China\u2019s history and culture, such as the Three Ancient Moral Guidelines, that taught rules on obedience, The Three Kingdoms of Wu, Wei and Shu, and a modern example of the Three Gorges Dam.<\/p>\n Based on the ancient Chinese tradition, the number 9 was the highest number and therefore the \u2018king\u2019 of numbers. The Emperor of China would be referred to as\u00a0\u4e5d\u4e94\u81f3\u5c0a <\/a><\/span>(ji\u01d4 w\u01d4 zh\u00ec z\u016bn) \u2018The King of Yesterday and Tomorrow\u2019 which originated from the idiom \u4e00\u8a00\u4e5d\u9f0e<\/a><\/span>\u00a0(y\u012b\u00a0y\u00e1n\u00a0ji\u01d4 d\u01d0ng) meaning \u2018one word is as heavy as nine tripods\u2019. The number 9 also sound a lot like the word for \u2018long\u2019 \u4e45<\/a><\/span>\u00a0(ji\u01d4)\u00a0and so 9 often represents longevity which is why there are 9,999 rooms in the Forbidden City in Beijing. It is also traditional for a boyfriend to send 99, or 999 roses to his beloved, although tragically pomelo<\/a><\/span>\u00a0or\u00a0condoms<\/a><\/span>\u00a0seem to have become a more popular way of expressing their ‘everlasting love’. Who said romance was dead?<\/p>\n It could not get any worse than the number 4 \u56db (s\u00ec)\u00a0in Chinese culture, as it sounds remarkably like the word for death \u6b7b<\/a><\/span>\u00a0(s\u01d0). Many buildings will not have a 4th floor, and many people will stay away from rooms, dates or mobile phone numbers with 4s.<\/p>\n In more recent years, people have tried to get away from the negative connotations of the number 4, by connecting it to the tone \u2018fa\u2019, in the \u2018do re mi fa\u2019 scale. Fa is the fourth <\/span>syllable in the scale and is now associated by some with \u53d1\u8d22<\/a><\/span>\u00a0(f\u0101 c\u00e1i) \u2018to get rich\u2019.<\/p>\n The colour red is associated with happiness in Chinese culture and is used in celebrations from Chinese New Year to weddings<\/a><\/span>. If you wear, or are given something red, you will have good luck and fortune for the rest of the year. Traditionally, \u7ea2\u5305<\/a><\/span>\u00a0(h\u00f3ng\u00a0b\u0101o)\u00a0or \u2018red packets\u2019 are given at Chinese New Year with money inside, although nowadays they are given more liberally and are a popular \u2018gift\u2019 to give in the messenger service, WeChat. If the New Year brings in your zodiac, you might wear red underwear or clothing to ensure your year will be joyful.<\/p>\n The only time red would not be seen as at a funeral, where it would be seen as disrespectful and extremely unlucky.<\/p>\n Those of you interested in the stock market, may have noticed that the Chinese market has the reversal of colours. So, whilst in the western markets \u2018down\u2019 is red, in China red means positive, whilst green is negative.<\/p>\n White is a symbol of purity within Chinese culture, but is also often associated with mourning. Similarly, black, although a neutral colour would often be worn at a funeral. Black should definitely not be worn at a celebration, such as a wedding, or Chinese New Year.<\/p>\n Having your home face in the right direction is important for many Chinese people, even in the modern day. I have witnessed potential house hunters check the direction with a compass to make sure the \u98ce\u6c34 (f\u0113ng\u00a0shu\u01d0)\u00a0Feng Shui of the apartment is good. For good Feng Shui, Houses or apartments should NOT face to the north. However, there also seems to be some connection between the homeowners zodiac and which direction<\/a><\/span>\u00a0their home should face. The direction of your home is also practical; if your home faces the south, you will have more sun during the winter. Bearing in mind, Chinese houses and apartments do not have heating, this is very much needed!<\/p>\n Even city planning is based on Feng Shui: buildings built near mountains often have a hole cut out of them, to allow the \u2018dragon\u2019 to flow down the mountain and through the building, allowing for good Feng Shui.<\/p>\n At Chinese New Year, traditions and superstitions become even more important, although they can differ dramatically between provinces in China and the north\/south divide.<\/p>\n Before Chinese New Year, families will spring clean the home, but during the Chinese New Year period, no one sweeps or cleans the home<\/a><\/span>. Sweeping will get rid of the luck that Chinese New Year brings. In some provinces it is still traditional for both men and women not to wash their hair during this time for similar reasons.<\/p>\n When giving gifts to Chinese friends or potential in-laws<\/a><\/span>, it\u2019s important to consider the number you give (multiples of 3 are good, probably stay away from 4 of anything\u2026) but also the gift itself.<\/p>\n Monetary gifts given via WeChat would be a combination of lucky numbers, such as 6.66, 9.99 etc, or a popular homophone, such as 5.21 or 13.14<\/a><\/span>.<\/p>\nMultiples of 2 (Except for 4)<\/h3>\n
Odd Numbers<\/h3>\n
<\/p>\nUnlucky Numbers:<\/h2>\n
4 \u56db<\/a><\/span>\u00a0(s\u00ec)<\/h3>\n
<\/p>\nColours<\/h2>\n
Red<\/h3>\n
<\/p>\nBlack and White<\/h3>\n
Home<\/h2>\n
<\/p>\nGifts<\/h2>\n