In Mandarin and Cantonese, many digits sound like other words. That sound-alike effect, homophony, turns ordinary numbers into small blessings or curses. In business it shows up in prices, phone numbers, licence plates, floor numbers, launch dates and web addresses.
The big three: 8, 6, 9
- 8 (bā) sounds like 发 (fā), "to prosper". The Beijing Olympics opened at 8 pm on 8/8/2008.
- 6 (liù) sounds like 流, "flow". 六六大顺 means everything goes smoothly.
- 9 (jiǔ) sounds like 久, "long-lasting". It's popular for anniversaries and wedding dates.
The one to avoid: 4
4 (sì) sounds like 死, "death". Many buildings skip 4th, 14th and 24th floors, and 4-heavy phone numbers sell at a discount.
Combinations that carry meaning
- 168: 一路发, prosperity all the way.
- 518: 我要发, "I will prosper".
- 520: "I love you". 20 May has become an unofficial Valentine's Day.
- 1314: a whole lifetime.
- 250: "fool". Avoid it as a price.
What this means for pricing and branding
Retailers often end prices in 8 or 9 (¥168, ¥888, ¥1,999). Brands sell lucky SKUs around festivals. Premium phone numbers and plates are auctioned for large sums. If you're entering the Chinese market, checking your prices, dates and numbers for bad combinations is cheap insurance.