Chinese number puns 數字諧音 (数字谐音)

shùzì xiéyīn · from Chinese

What do Chinese number puns like 520 mean?

Chinese number puns use digits that sound like words, so 520 (wǔ èr líng) means I love you and 4 (sì) is unlucky because it sounds like death (死 sǐ).

Numbers are short, easy to type and sound like phrases, so Chinese internet slang is full of them. 20 May (5/20) has become an unofficial Valentine's Day in China and Taiwan. Number puns also shape phone numbers, car plates and prices, with 8 (bā, like 發 fā, prosper) prized and 4 avoided.

Examples

520 wǔ èr líng (我愛你 wǒ ài nǐ, I love you); 88 bā bā (拜拜 bàibài, bye bye); 666 liù liù liù (溜 liù, skilful, nice one); 8 bā (發 fā, prosper); 4 sì (死 sǐ, death)

Kungfucius says: In Chinese, your phone number is also a horoscope.