Culture guide
Chinese lucky numbers
In Chinese culture, number luck comes from sound. A number that sounds like a good word is lucky; one that sounds like a bad word is avoided — in phone numbers, licence plates, floor numbers, wedding dates and prices.
| Digit | Character | Association |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | 八 bā | Sounds like 发 fā — wealth & prosperity. The luckiest digit. |
| 6 | 六 liù | Sounds like 流 liú — things flow smoothly. |
| 9 | 九 jiǔ | Sounds like 久 jiǔ — long-lasting; linked with the emperor. |
| 2 | 二 èr | “Good things come in pairs.” |
| 3 | 三 sān | Sounds like 生 shēng — life and birth (in Cantonese). |
| 7 | 七 qī | Sounds like 起 “arise” and togetherness; mixed because of the ghost month. |
| 4 | 四 sì | Sounds like 死 sǐ — death. Often skipped in buildings. |
Famous combinations
- 168 — “all the way to prosperity”.
- 520 — sounds like “I love you”; 20 May is an unofficial love day.
- 1314 — “for a lifetime”, popular for weddings.
- 518 — “I will prosper”.
- 666 — “everything goes smoothly” (very positive in China).
- 250 — slang for a fool; avoid in prices and gifts.
Check any number
Paste a phone number, plate or price into the Chinese lucky number checker.
Red envelope amounts
Gift amounts usually use even numbers and lucky digits: 666, 888, 1,688 or 8,888. Avoid anything with 4. In India a similar custom adds one to round sums — ₹101, ₹501 or ₹1,100 (shagun).