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Chinese number meanings: 0 to 9

Why 8 is lucky, 4 is avoided and 5 can mean “me” or “crying” — every digit explained.

Updated September 2026 · 035555.com editorial

DigitHanziPinyinSounds likeAssociation
0零líng灵 spirit · chat: 你 youWholeness, a fresh start
1一yī一 unity · 要 wantLeadership, firsts
2二èr爱 love (chat) · 易 easyGood things come in pairs
3三sān生 life · 想 miss (chat)Growth, Heaven–Earth–Humanity
4四sì死 deathMost avoided digit
5五wǔ我 me · 无 none · 呜 sobFive Elements, Five Blessings
6六liù溜/顺 smoothEverything goes smoothly
7七qī起 rise · 妻 wife · 气 angerMixed; 7th month = Ghost Month
8八bā发 prosperThe luckiest digit
9九jiǔ久 long-lastingLongevity, eternity

Why sound matters

Mandarin has many homophones, so a number is often “heard” as the word it resembles. That is why 8 (bā) evokes 发 (fā, to prosper) and 4 (sì) evokes 死 (sǐ, death). The effect is strong enough to shape real prices: phone numbers and licence plates full of 8s trade at premiums, and many buildings skip the 4th, 14th and 24th floors.

Famous examples

  • The Beijing 2008 Olympics opened on 08/08/08 at 8:08 pm.
  • May 20 (5/20) has become an unofficial love day because 520 sounds like 我爱你.
  • Businesses love 168 (一路发, “prosper all the way”) and 518 (我要发, “I will prosper”).

Cantonese differences

In Cantonese, 3 (saam) can echo 生 (life), 6 (luk) echoes 禄 (fortune), and 5 (ng) echoes 唔 (not) — so 5 can flip a phrase negative (e.g. 58 heard as “won't prosper”). Always consider the audience's dialect.

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