Death: the most avoided number (tetraphobia)
Caution Unlucky / use with care
What does 4 mean in Chinese?
In Mandarin, 4 is read sì ≈ sǐ. Death: the most avoided number (tetraphobia) 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 四 | sì Cantonese: sei3 | 死 sǐ (death); 是 shì (yes, in slang) | Sounds like 死 'death'. It is the most avoided digit: buildings skip 4th floors and plates with 4 sell cheaply |
How to use 4
- 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 4 mean in Chinese?
4 reads as 死 (sì ≈ sǐ). Death: the most avoided number (tetraphobia)
Is 4 a lucky number?
4 is generally considered unlucky or negative, mainly because of the digit 4 (四, sounding like 死 "death") or a negative phrase.
Can I use 4 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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Choosing a number that matters?
Phone numbers, plates, prices, addresses, launch dates: get a human expert's audit for the Chinese market.