Updated on December 27, 2022

What do you know about the Chinese lucky numbers? Any guesses which Chinese numbers are the lucky and unlucky numbers?

*Learn Chinese Lucky and Unlucky Numbers.*

Welcome to Ming Mandarin’s free online Mandarin Chinese lessons. In this lesson, I’m going to share with you the Chinese lucky and unlucky numbers.

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Well, in traditional Chinese culture, most of the numbers carry hidden meanings. Some of the numbers are considered to be lucky (吉利, jílì) and some are considered to be unlucky (不吉, bùjí). This vague classification of the numbers is closely related to their pronunciations.

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Chinese Lucky Numbers (幸运数字)

The numbers 0, 2, 3, 6, 8, and 9 are considered to be the lucky numbers.

Chinese Unlucky Numbers (不幸的数字)

The number 4 is certainly an unlucky number. Depending on the context, the numbers 5 and 7 can be either lucky or unlucky ones.

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Chinese Lucky and Unlucky Numbers

2 (二, èr): Lucky number

2 (二, èr) is a lucky number because it represents “pair” or “double”. Chinese people believe that the “double” means “harmony and balance” that brings happiness. Because of this reason, Chinese people like even numbers. This also explains why the Chinese people decorate their home with 囍 (xǐ), a combination of a pair of 喜 (xǐ). In fact, 囍, a combined symmetric character, is also known as 双喜 (shuāng xǐ), which means “double happiness”.

How about zero (0, 零, líng)? Well, zero is an even number. Hence, a zero is a lucky number.

The Chinese idiom 双喜临门 (Shuāng xǐ lín mén) means “an event of double happiness for the family”.

3 (三, sān): Lucky number

The number 3 (三, sān) is a lucky number because 三 (sān) sounds like 生 (Shēng). 生 means “life” or “to give birth”. Further, 3 (三) represents the three important stages of human life: birth, marriage, and death, hence 3 is a lucky number in Chinese culture.

4 (四, sì): Unlucky number

The number 4 (四) is the unluckiest number in China because its pronunciation is similar to 死 (sǐ), which means death. That’s why Chinese people avoid the number 4 in their phone number, ID numbers, license plates, elevators (many buildings don’t have the 4^th floor), etc. People avoid buying a house with number 4 in the address. Hence, you shouldn’t give someone a red packet (红包) with the digit 4 (i.e., RMB 4 or RMB 44), otherwise this may be considered as a death threat. 🙂

*The number 5 can be both lucky and unlucky.*

5 (五, wǔ): Lucky and unlucky

The number 5 五 (wǔ) represent 五行 (wǔ xíng), the five elements, namely earth, water, fire, wood, and metal. 五行 is a very important concept in traditional Chinese culture, including in traditional Chinese medicine (中医) and Feng Shui (风水). Hence, 五 can be regarded as a lucky number.

However, 5 (五 wǔ) sounds similar to 呜 (wū), an onomatopoeia for crying. Further, 五 also sounds similar to 无 (wú), meaning “not” or “without”, a sign of bad luck. Therefore, 5 can be an unlucky number. Depending on the context, 5 is regarded as both lucky and unlucky numbers.

6 (六, Liù): Lucky number

The character 6 sounds like 流 (liú), which means “to flow” or “stream of waters”. Hence, 6 represents the progress of life. No wonder, Chinese people like sending red packets worth RMB 6, RMB 6.6, RMB 66 etc. Also, Chinese people like sending emojis with number 666, meaning “good luck”.

The popular Chinese idiom 六六大顺 (liù liù dà shùn), means “a happy family, smooth work, successful career, and good health”. The idiom implies “everything will be smooth”.

7 (七, qī): Lucky and unlucky

The character 七 (qī) sounds similar to 起 (qǐ) and 气 (qì). 起 (qǐ) means “get up”, “start” or “rise”. In traditional Chinese medicine, 气 (qì) means “vital energy”. Further, the Chinese valentines day, The Qixi Festival (七夕节), is celebrated on the 7th day of the 7th month (in the lunar calendar). In these contexts, 七 is regarded as a lucky number.

However, 七 (qī) also sounds exactly like 欺 (qī), which means “deceive” or “cheat”. Also, the Chinese ghost month (幽灵月, Yōulíng yuè) is the 7^th month of the lunar calendar. Hence, 7 is also regarded as an unlucky number.

*8 is a lucky number in Chinese culture.*

8 (八, bā): Lucky number

8 (八, bā) sounds like 发 (fā), which in turn is the part of 发财 (fācái), meaning “to get rich” or “wealth“. 8 also looks similar to 喜 (xǐ), part of “double happiness”. Hence, 8 is considered to be a lucky number. No wonder, many Chinese airlines try to use the number 8 in the in the flight numbers. The opening ceremony of Beijing Olympic was held at 8:08 pm on 8/8/08.

9 (九, jiǔ): Lucky number

The number 9 (九, jiǔ) has exactly the same pronunciation as 久 (jiǔ). Well, 久 means a long period of time. Hence 久 (and 九) represents longevity and long life.

Can you guess why many Chinese couples prefer to get married on 9^th September? Well, it’s because 9^th September means the 9^th day of the 9^th month, which can be written as “99”.

This is also the reason why there are 81 doornails on the gates of the Forbidden City (9*9=81).

Also, Chinese people like sending red packets worth RMB 2, RMB 8, RMB 9, RMB 99, etc. because these numbers are the lucky numbers.

Don’t you think the numbers carry a unique set of meanings in Chinese culture? How does your culture treat these numbers? Do let me know in the comments. 🙂

-Jia