Chinese lucky numbers in business: 8, 6, 9 and the trouble with 4
Numbers and culture. 7-minute read. Updated 2026-10-10.
In Mandarin and Cantonese many number words sound like other words. Over centuries those sound-alikes became associations, and in modern commerce they show up in prices, addresses, phone numbers, license plates and domain names. Ignoring them can quietly cost a business customers; using them well can make a brand easier to remember.
The digits that matter most
- 8 (bā) sounds close to fā, as in 发财, to prosper. It is the most sought-after digit. The Beijing Olympic Games opened on 8 August 2008 at 8:08 in the evening.
- 6 (liù) suggests flowing smoothly. 66 and 666 are wished for in business, unlike the Western reading of 666.
- 9 (jiǔ) sounds like 久, long-lasting, and is popular for weddings and partnerships.
- 4 (sì) sounds like 死, death. Some buildings skip fourth floors, and many buyers avoid 4 in phone numbers or plates.
- 3 in Cantonese is close to the word for life or birth, so it reads positively in Hong Kong and southern China.
Combinations people look for
Readers also pair digits. 168 can be read as "prosperity all the way", 518 as "I will prosper", and repeated 1s before an 8 (118) as "want, want, prosper". Combinations containing 14 or 514 are avoided because they can be read as wishing death. These readings vary by dialect and region, so treat them as tendencies rather than rules.
Where it changes money
- Pricing: retailers in Chinese-speaking markets often end prices in 8 rather than 9.
- Phone numbers and plates: government auctions of vanity plates and carrier auctions of mobile numbers have produced headline prices for strings of 8s.
- Domain names: numeric .com names are popular in China because digits are easier to type and remember than romanised words. Names without 0 or 4, known as "chips", trade at a premium.
- Addresses: some developers renumber floors or units to avoid 4.
Reading 36118
3 (life), 6 (smooth), 1-1 (want, want) and a final 8 (prosper), with no 4 or 0. On our model it scores 80 out of 100. You can score any number, from a price to a phone number, with the lucky-number reader.
Frequently asked questions
Why is 8 lucky in Chinese culture?
Because bā sounds like fā, the word for prosperity, as in the New Year greeting 恭喜发财.
Should I avoid 4 in prices or phone numbers?
If your customers include Chinese-speaking buyers, avoiding 4 removes a small but real friction. Elsewhere it makes little difference.
What is a chip number?
A number with no 0 and no 4. In the numeric domain market, chip names are preferred by many Chinese end users.