The game
Lucky and unlucky numbers in Chinese culture
Eight for prosperity, four to be avoided, nine for long life. Many 4D players choose numbers by their meaning. Where those meanings come from, digit by digit.
Meaning by sound
In Chinese languages many numbers sound like other words, and they take on those words’ meanings. That is why numbers matter so much in addresses, phone numbers and car plates across much of Asia, and why many 4D players choose theirs by meaning rather than at random.
The lucky ones
Eight is the most prized: in Cantonese and Mandarin it sounds like the word for prosperity. Nine sounds like the word for lasting, so it stands for long life. Six sounds like flowing smoothly, and is often chosen for things that should go well. 168 is read as “prosperity all the way”.
The one to avoid
Four sounds like the word for death, so many buildings skip a fourth floor and many people avoid it in anything important. Combinations matter too: 14 and 24 are often avoided, while 88 and 888 are sought after.
Choosing your number
Plenty of players build their four digits this way, around a birthday, a wish or a lucky pairing. The meaning is yours and it is a lovely reason to pick a number. Pick whatever you would most enjoy seeing come up.