Why 4 Is Unlucky and 8 Is Lucky in China

四 (sì, "four") sounds almost the same as 死 (sǐ, "to die"). Because of that, in some hotels and hospitals you won't even find a button for floor 4 in the elevator.

But don't take it too seriously — plenty of younger people don't care at all. Dorms and schools still have a fourth floor. So Nora living in room 402 is completely normal.

The favorite number: 8

八 (bā, "eight") sounds like 发 (fā), as in 发财 (fācái, "to get rich"). So people will pay extra to grab phone numbers and license plates that end in 8.

The sound is everything: 四 ≈ 死 (avoid), 八 ≈ 发 (lucky). It's about how the number sounds, not the number itself.

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