A derogatory word for a gossipy woman (also 8 March, Women's Day). Avoid it as a label
Rude: avoid Unlucky / use with care
What does 38 mean in Chinese?
In Mandarin, 38 is read sān bā, and it sounds like 三八. A derogatory word for a gossipy woman (also 8 March, Women's Day). Avoid it as a label 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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' |
| 8 | 八 | bā Cantonese: baat3 | 发 fā (prosper, get rich); 拜 bài (bye) | The king of lucky numbers, 发 'prosperity'. The Beijing Olympics opened 08/08/08 at 8:08 pm |
How to use 38
- 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 38 mean in Chinese?
38 reads as 三八 (sān bā). A derogatory word for a gossipy woman (also 8 March, Women's Day). Avoid it as a label
Is 38 a lucky number?
No. 38 carries a rude or insulting meaning. Avoid it in gifts, prices and plates.
Can I use 38 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.
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