Guide · Avoid these
Unlucky Numbers in Chinese Culture
One digit can quietly sink a sale. Here are the numbers Chinese speakers avoid, why they avoid them, and the surprising exceptions.
The big one: 4 (四 sì ≈ 死 sǐ, "death")
Fear of 4 (tetraphobia) is the most widespread number superstition in East Asia. Many buildings in Chinese communities skip the 4th, 14th and 24th floors. Hospitals avoid room 4. Phone numbers and plates containing 4 sell cheaply, and gifts never come in fours.
| Number | Reads as | Why it's avoided |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | 死 | Death |
| 14 | 要死 | "Going to die" |
| 24 | 易死 | "Easy to die" (Cantonese) |
| 44 | 死死 | Double death |
| 74 | 气死 | "Angry to death" |
| 514 | 我要死 | "I'm going to die" |
| 748 | 去死吧 | "Go to hell!" (rude) |
| 7456 | 气死我了 | "I'm so angry" |
Insults hiding in numbers
- 250 (二百五) means "idiot". Never give ¥250 or price a gift at 250.
- 38 (三八) is a derogatory word for a gossipy woman.
- 13 (十三点) is Shanghainese slang for someone silly. Western 13-avoidance adds to it.
When 4 is actually fine
Inside some phrases, 4 reads as 是 (shì, "yes") or 世 (shì, "lifetime"): 1314 (forever), 3344 (life after life), 94 ("exactly"), 2014 ("love you for a lifetime"). In Cantonese, 54 (唔死) means "won't die".
Other traps
- 3 in gifts: 散 (sàn) means "to scatter or break up". Avoid it in wedding gifts.
- Ghost Month: the 7th lunar month is traditionally avoided for weddings, moving and big launches. See the Date Finder.
- Clocks as gifts: 送钟 sounds like 送终, "attending a funeral". It's not a number, but it's a classic mistake.
Check any number in seconds with the Number Decoder. It flags hidden 4s, insults and dialect traps.
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