一 yī
One, unity, first.
Neither lucky nor unlucky. 一心一意 (one heart, one mind) means wholehearted.
Chinese Number Symbolism
Numbers in Chinese carry meanings through homophones. Type one to see how it reads, or scan the list. It matters most when you are choosing an amount for a red envelope or a price.
Why numbers mean things here
Chinese has a lot of homophones, and numbers are read as syllables. 八 (bā) sounds like 发 (fā), to prosper. 四 (sì) sounds like 死 (sǐ), to die. Once you hear the pairs, the whole system makes sense: number symbolism in China is wordplay that hardened into custom.
It shows up in phone numbers, licence plates, opening prices, wedding dates, and above all in red envelopes, where the amount carries the message.
Red envelope amounts
A red envelope (红包) is given for weddings, birthdays, New Year and births. The amount matters more than the note: it is read as a sentence.
Amounts that read well
- 888 (八八八): Prosper, prosper, prosper.
- 666 (六六六): Awesome, smooth, well done.
- 168 (一六八): Sounds like 一路发: prosper all the way.
- 520 (五二零): Sounds like 我爱你 (wǒ ài nǐ): I love you.
- 1314 (一三一四): Sounds like 一生一世: one life, one lifetime, forever.
- 99 (九九): Long-lasting, forever.
- 66 (六六): Doubled smoothness.
- 18 (十八): Sounds like 要发: about to prosper.
Amounts to avoid
- 4: contains or is built on 4, or reads as an insult. Give a different amount.
- 14: contains or is built on 4, or reads as an insult. Give a different amount.
- 24: contains or is built on 4, or reads as an insult. Give a different amount.
- 40: contains or is built on 4, or reads as an insult. Give a different amount.
- 250: contains or is built on 4, or reads as an insult. Give a different amount.
- 400: contains or is built on 4, or reads as an insult. Give a different amount.
- 444: contains or is built on 4, or reads as an insult. Give a different amount.
Two more rules: give an even amount where you can, and never give an odd-numbered amount at a wedding or a funeral. Odd amounts belong in white envelopes for funerals, so an odd wedding gift reads as a mistake.
The one number to be careful with
250 (二百五) is a mild insult meaning idiot. It comes from an old coin-counting joke and it is still in daily use. If someone says it about you, they are not complimenting your maths.
Two other numbers are worth knowing for the opposite reason: 13 is unlucky in the West but means nothing in China, and 4 is harmless in the West but avoided here.
The full list
二 / 双 èr / shuāng
Pairs and harmony.
The saying 好事成双 (good things come in pairs) makes two welcome in gifts. 双 (a pair) is often preferred over 二 when counting objects.
三 sān
Sounds like 生 (shēng), to be born or to grow.
Three is common in auspicious phrases: 三羊开泰 (a fresh start). 三生有幸 is 'lucky in three lifetimes'.
四 sì
Sounds like 死 (sǐ), to die.
The most avoided number in China. Many buildings have no 4th, 14th, or 24th floor, and phone numbers with 4 sell for less. Do not give 4, 40, or 400 in a red envelope.
五 wǔ
Sounds like 我 (wǒ), I or me.
Neither auspicious nor avoided. 五福 (five blessings) is the traditional positive pairing.
六 liù
Sounds like 溜 or 顺: smooth, without obstacles.
六六大顺 means 'everything runs smoothly'. Sixes are a safe, welcome number in gifts.
七 qī
Mixed. Sounds like 起 (to rise), but also appears in funeral cycles.
七夕, the seventh night of the seventh month, is Chinese Valentine's Day, so seven skews romantic rather than unlucky.
八 bā
Sounds like 发 (fā), to prosper or make money.
The strongest money number. Phone numbers and licence plates full of 8s sell at a premium. 88 doubles it.
九 jiǔ
Sounds like 久 (jiǔ), long-lasting.
The number of the emperor and of endurance. 99 or 999 promises a long life or a long relationship.
十 shí
Complete, perfect.
十全十美 is 'perfect in every way'. Ten out of ten.
十三 shí sān
Nothing bad in Chinese.
Worth knowing: 13 is a Western superstition. In China it carries no particular weight.
十四 shí sì
Sounds like 实死 or 要死: certain death, or 'going to die'.
Avoided for the same reason as 4. Skip it in gifts and avoid floor 14 and room 14 if the guest is superstitious.
十八 shí bā
Sounds like 要发: about to prosper.
In Cantonese it lands even better as 实发, 'certainly prosper'. Popular for opening prices and gifts.
二十四 èr shí sì
Contains 4.
Avoided because of the 4, not for its own sake.
六六 liù liù
Doubled smoothness.
A modest, safe gift amount. 六六大顺 in two digits.
八八 bā bā
Doubled prosperity.
Also the internet shorthand for 拜拜 (bye bye), so context decides whether it means 'prosper' or 'see you'.
九九 jiǔ jiǔ
Long-lasting, forever.
Common in wedding gifts and anniversary amounts.
一百 yī bǎi
One hundred, completeness.
一百天 marks a baby's hundredth day. A round 100 is a clean, respectful gift.
一百零八 yī bǎi líng bā
A Buddhist number of completeness.
108 beads on a mala, 108 blows of the temple bell. You will see it in temple contexts more than in gifts.
一一零 yāo yāo líng
Police.
Say 幺 (yāo) instead of 一 for the digit one on the phone; it is clearer over a bad line.
一一九 yāo yāo jiǔ
Fire brigade.
Also increasingly used for any emergency in cities.
一二零 yāo èr líng
Ambulance.
Ask for 急救 (jí jiù), emergency treatment, if you get through to a dispatcher.
一六八 yī liù bā
Sounds like 一路发: prosper all the way.
One of the most popular auspicious amounts in a red envelope, and a common opening price in business.
二三三 èr sān sān
Laughing out loud.
Chinese internet slang, from the number of a laughing emoji on an old forum. You will see it in chat, not in gifts.
二百五 èr bǎi wǔ
Idiot, half-wit.
The one number to be careful with: 二百五 is a mild, very common insult. Do not use it to describe a price or a person.
五二零 wǔ èr líng
Sounds like 我爱你 (wǒ ài nǐ): I love you.
Sent in messages and transferred as money on 20 May, which is now an informal Valentine's Day. 521 works the same way.
六六六 liù liù liù
Awesome, smooth, well done.
Online praise, from 溜 (skilled). Also a solid gift amount because of the smoothness reading.
八八六 bā bā liù
Sounds like 拜拜咯: bye bye.
How a conversation ends in chat, not a number to put on a card.
八八八 bā bā bā
Prosper, prosper, prosper.
Three 8s is the strongest money number on a plate, a phone number, or a red envelope. Common at weddings and openings.
九九五 jiǔ jiǔ wǔ
Sounds like 救救我: help me.
Chat slang, used half-jokingly. If you actually need help, call 110.
九九九 jiǔ jiǔ jiǔ
Long-lasting, forever.
Popular for engagement and wedding gifts. A price ending in 999 reads as a promise rather than a discount.
一三一四 yī sān yī sì
Sounds like 一生一世: one life, one lifetime, forever.
Paired with 520 as 5201314: 'I will love you for a lifetime'.
七四五六 qī sì wǔ liù
Sounds like 气死我了: you are driving me mad.
Chat slang. Amusing to recognise, but do not send it as a gift amount.