Shanghainese slang for a silly or crazy person. Also avoided through Western influence
Caution Unlucky / use with care
What does 13 mean in Chinese?
In Mandarin, 13 is read shísān diǎn, and it sounds like 十三点. Shanghainese slang for a silly or crazy person. Also avoided through Western influence Chinese speakers use numbers like this because most digits sound like everyday words. That is why number meanings shape prices, phone numbers, car plates, wedding dates and even building floors.
Digit-by-digit breakdown
| Digit | 汉字 | Pinyin | Sounds like | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 一 / 幺 | yī / yāo Cantonese: jat1 | 要 yào (want, will); 一 (first, unity) | Unity, being first, and also 'want/will' (yāo ≈ 要) |
| 3 | 三 | sān Cantonese: saam1 | 生 shēng (life, birth); 散 sàn (scatter, break up) | Life and growth. Avoid it in wedding gifts, where 散 means 'split' |
How to use 13
- In chat and social media: it's recognised instantly by Chinese speakers, so context is everything.
- In business: keep it away from prices, product codes and phone numbers aimed at Chinese customers.
- As a gift amount: choose even amounts with 6, 8 or 9 (e.g. 88, 168, 888) instead.
Frequently asked questions
What does 13 mean in Chinese?
13 reads as 十三点 (shísān diǎn). Shanghainese slang for a silly or crazy person. Also avoided through Western influence
Is 13 a lucky number?
13 is generally considered unlucky or negative, mainly because of the digit 4 (四, sounding like 死 "death") or a negative phrase.
Can I use 13 in a phone number, price or licence plate?
Use our free Number Decoder to score the full number. Endings matter most, and combinations with 8 (发, prosperity) raise the score while 4 (死) lowers it.
Related numbers
Choosing a number that matters?
Phone numbers, plates, prices, addresses, launch dates: get a human expert's audit for the Chinese market.