Chinese number code and culture
Hi mates on italki, i need you to help me correct or polish this article.
Almost every nation has their preference or taboo to some certain numbers, and Chinese without exception have our special taste for numbers. The preference shows the taste and the taste tells culture. On this ground, the numbers are more of culture code.
What is Chinese number code?
Generally speaking, we prefer even numbers to odd numbers, and you will realize Chinese induldge in even numbers in almost every corner of life. Whenever you plan to give a gift and feel uncertain how many stuffs you better give (if you feel one is not enough), then things in pair will never get you wrong. Chinese people tend to send gifts in pair such as two bottles of liquor, two tickets of a concert, two boxes of chocolates, and never forget about the couplets. The only exception is number 4 which is regarded as an unlucky number becasue it sounds like "death"(sǐ) in Mandarin Chinese.
8 is the most popular number throughout China. One obvious reason people usually associate "8" (bā) with another character fā which means getting rich. So if you have a chance to bargin with a shop owner for something in China, cut down the price and leave an eight in will make this deal accepted easily. Most of the owner believe in this lucky number and seldom deny such a good price. You will see more examples like this in the deparment stores, supermarkets and outdoor makerts where a lot of prices have at least an eight in. 88, 188,128,158 ect.
You may say you never came to China and nor to say know the price in shops, but I'm sure you know must this example: 2008/08/08 8:08 pm (Beijing time). The openning ceremony time of Beijing Olympic Games. Five 8 in this explame show the 8 fever in China.
When talking about numbers in cultural context, we find a lot of interesting stuffs. What's the number code in your country?
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1
Chinese number code and culture
Hi mates on italki, i need you to help me correct or polish this article.
Almost every nation has their preference or taboo for some certain numbers and Chinese, without exception, have our special taste for numbers. The preference shows the taste and the taste tells culture. On this ground, the numbers are more of culture code.
What is the Chinese number code?
Generally speaking, we prefer even numbers to odd numbers and you will realize that Chinese indulge in even numbers in almost every corner of life. Whenever you plan to give a gift and feel uncertain how many items you had better give (if you feel one is not enough), then things in pairs will never make you wrong. Chinese people tend to send gifts in pairs, such as two bottles of liquor, two tickets of a concert, two boxes of chocolates and never forget about the couplets. The only exception is the number 4, which is regarded as an unlucky number because it sounds like "death"(sǐ) in Mandarin Chinese.
8 is the most popular number throughout China. One obvious reason is that people usually associate "8" (bā) with another character, fā, which means getting rich. So if you have a chance to bargain with a shop owner for something in China, cutting down the price and leaving an eight in will make this deal accepted easily. Most of the owners believe in this lucky number and seldom deny such a good price. You will see more examples like this in the deparment stores, supermarkets and outdoor makerts, where a lot of prices have at least an eight in. 88, 188,128,158 ect.
You may say you never came to China, nor to say know the price in shops, but I'm sure you must know must this example: 2008/08/08 8:08 pm (Beijing time). The openning ceremony time of Beijing Olympic Games. Five 8's in this example show the 8 fever in China.
When talking about numbers in cultural context, we find a lot of interesting stuff. What's the number code in your country?
[Very good. I always remember the 4th floor missing in some hotels in China. For westerners, the number 13 is considered unlucky, while 7 is considered lucky. It is considered very unlucky by some people to have 13 guests at a dinner.]
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In Moscow we're not really prefer any particular number. Showing any fear of numbers like 13 is largely seen as ignorance. But we like beautiful combinations in telephone numbers - 123-44-55 or car's plates - 111, 222. The only number, I that could name as unhappy is 6, because 666 is devil's number. Second reason is more interesting: in prison and criminal culture some people are called this number "Шестёрка", as having no real power and being in the hierarchy's bottom.
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Hi GLYN, thanks for your comment. But you don't find anything to be corrected in my article?
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13 is an unlucky number
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