Talk:Numbers in Chinese culture

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article is part of WikiProject China, a project to improve all China-related articles. If you would like to help improve this and other China-related articles, please join the project. All interested editors are welcome.
Start This article has been rated as Start-Class on the quality scale. (add comments)
More information about this article...


Contents

[edit] Contradictions in article

How can 4, 6 and 7 be in both the "lucky" and "unlucky" numbers column? I think the lucky number section needs to be split up more depending on the geograhical lay of china and attributing that number's qualities to specific regions. Otherwise this issue makes the article look like a nonsense due to its lumping of many disparate regions and cultures into the one label of "chinese". 196.2.111.85 (talk) 12:50, 11 February 2008 (UTC)

I came from a region of China where 4 was considered lucky, but people there avoid it now to "not offend" people from other regions of China. Nevertheless, separating regions is near impossible considering how much credible references there are for this thing. Some of the difference is rooted in interpretation. E.g. The number 7, both the lucky and unlucky aspects are derived from the same story/idea, just different interpretation. --Voidvector (talk) 12:14, 2 April 2008 (UTC)

[edit] ?

Just a suggestion, but I think the page would be less misleading if it were split into dialects first then followed by its individual categories. --218.111.19.37 19:06, 8 January 2007 (UTC)


This page ignores the fact that the number four is traditionally lucky in some Chinese dialects, such as Teochew. Eight is also bad luck in Chinese divination. Well that's what a Taoist priest told me.

"The number 4 is considered lucky in some regions of China" - in what regions? I heard about Teochew, any other?


I note that 6, 7, and 9 in Cantonese have bawdy meanings especially when used in combination.. is it possible that that is where 69 gets some of it's blue meaning in English?? the influance of cross culture effect should be included if it can be documented

[edit] Seven

I have added that a Cantonese (and possibly other cultures) avoid serving meals with seven dishes, as this is what is served at a funeral meal. I'm not sure if this is "Unlucky" per se. I would also like to find a better reference and maybe a reasoning for it, Caffm8 16:37, 7 July 2007 (UTC)

[edit] The number 3?

Can I ask why there's nothing on the number 3?? Is it considered lucky or unlucky? or nothing?

By the way, I was born in 1984, so I guess by Chinese standards I will have bad luck for the rest of my life! —Preceding unsigned comment added by Punkymonkey987 (talk • contribs) 06:42, 8 February 2008 (UTC)

Yes I think this is a glaring ommission. Bad form! :p 196.2.111.85 (talk) 12:51, 11 February 2008 (UTC)

[edit] 三八

I heard that 三八 is no particularly positive combination. Can anyone confirm this? Yaan (talk) 15:07, 14 February 2008 (UTC)

[edit] 520 or 521?

http://www.china2learn.com/board/show.php?qID=10786

Not sure about what is mean "I love you", 520 or 521. -- 202.28.27.6 (talk) 05:24, 21 April 2008 (UTC)

Both are fine, depends on the dialect. I think 520 is closer in Mandarin (and more popular according to Google). --Voidvector (talk)