Chinese Number Slang You Should Know

March 02, 2023

The internet is a marvelous, complex place. However, we tend to prefer simpler, shorter language online. Abbreviations, acronyms, and emojis are staples of internet slang.

In Chinese, internet slang often takes shape in numeronyms or number slang. Chinese number slang is when the syllables in Chinese words are replaced with numbers that may sound similar to them.

In this article, we will look at what numbers mean in Chine culture and how Chinese number slang is formed before exploring some popular Chinese number slang you should know for online interaction!


What do numbers mean in Chinese?

In Chinese numerology,

  • the number 0 (zero) means "the beginning",
  • The number 1 (one) means unity, togetherness,
  • The number 2 (two) means "double" or harmony,
  • the number 3 (three) means "many" or stability,
  • the number 4 (four) means death because it read as 四 sì, which sounds similar to 死 sǐ ("death" or "to die" in Chinese),
  • the number 5 (five) means "me" or "I,"
  • the number 6 (six) means smooth or good luck
  • the number 7 (seven) means holiness or mystery
  • the number 8 (eight) means wealth or success,
  • the number 9 (nine) means longevity.

In addition to these, the meaning of numbers may also vary in Chinese culture depending on the context.

What numbers are considered lucky in Chinese culture?

The numbers 2, 6, 8, and 9 are considered as lucky in China, with 8 being the luckiest number.

These numbers can be used for deciding important event dates and times such as weddings, family gatherings, a business's opening date, or national events. Phone numbers or home addresses containing these numbers are often sold at higher prices than others as well.

Lastly, a combination of the lucky numbers 2, 6, 8, and 9 can also be used for deciding the amount of money you put in a red envelope.

What numbers are considered unlucky in Chinese culture?

The numbers 3 and 4 are considered unlucky in Chinese culture.

The number 4 is the unluckiest number in Chinese culture and is often avoided by most Chinese. For example, many buildings do not have a fourth floor in China, and when they do, apartments on that floor are generally sold at lower prices since most people wouldn't want to live there. Additionally, it is taboo to say the number 4 during the Chinese New Year celebrations as it is believed to bring bad luck.

The number 3 is also considered unlucky at times, especially in Chinese gift-giving etiquette, because it sounds similar to 散 sàn, which means "to part ways".

How does Chinese Number Slang Work?

As mentioned previously, Chinese number slang is formed by assigning a number that phonetically sounds similar to a syllable.

To better understand this, let's take a look at how some numbers are used in Chinese number slang.

What does 0 (zero) mean in Chinese number slang?

The number zero is generally used in place of 你 nǐ. While líng and nǐ may not really sound the same, there are two possible reasons why the number zero is used for saying "你" in Chinese number slang: one, the formal form of "你 nǐ" is "您 nín“, and two, the l and n sounds quite similar in some Chinese dialects. So, nín could sound like lín in some parts of China, which is pretty close to 零 líng.

What does 1 (one) mean in Chinese number slang?

In Chinese, the number 1 (one) is typically pronounced as 一 yī, but when reading phone numbers aloud, locals would instead say "幺 yāo" to avoid confusing it with 七 qī, the number 7 (seven). Hence, in Chinese number slang, the number 1 can be used for its original meaning (一 yī， one）, or in place of similar-sounding Chinese words, like the Chinese verb 要 yào（similar to 幺 yāo）.

What does 2 (two) mean in Chinese number slang?

In Chinese, the number 2 (two) also has two pronunciations, either 二 èr and or 两 liǎng. However, when it comes to Chinese number slang, the number 2 is mostly read as 二 èr. Moreover, while 二 èr is generally used as a number alternative for Chinese words with similar pronunciation in Chinese number slang, it can also be for other reasons.

What does 3 (three) mean in Chinese number slang?

In Chinese, the number three is 三 sān, and it is used for representing Chinese words that sound similar to it such as 想 xiǎng or 生 shēng. It might not make much sense at first, but the s and sh almost sound the same in certain Chinese dialects !

What does 4 (four) mean in Chinese number slang?

The number four is 四 sì in Chinese, and in Chinese number slang, it represents Chinese words with similar pronunciations such as 死 sǐ or 是 shì。

What does 5 (five) mean in Chinese number slang?

The number five is 五 wǔ, which kind of sounds like 我 wǒ, but its meaning in Chinese number slang can vary depending on the context.

Popular Chinese Number Slang

233 èrsānsān | LOL

Rather than writing out 哈哈 hāhā, Chinese netizens are known to write 233. You can also write an unlimited amount of 3's, depending on how funny you find the situation.

666 liùliùliù | Awesome

This sounds just like 溜溜溜 liù liù liù, meaning "skilled, experienced, practiced". In other words, you are very cool and super awesome.

555 wŭwŭwŭ | The sound of crying

555 sounds like tearful crying, represented by the characters 呜呜呜 wū wū wū. You may associate this with the crying-face emoji.

2 and 250 èr and èrbăiwŭ | Stupid

There are a couple of stories behind this one, but the most reliable is that of the 吊 diào.

In ancient China, a 吊 was a unit of currency made up of 1000 copper coins. 500 pieces of copper was called 半吊子 bàn diàozi and indicated someone with a low IQ. (Occasionally one may good-naturedly refer to themselves as a 半吊子 to show humble self-deprecation of one's abilities.)

However, a quarter of a 吊 (250 copper pieces) became an insult meaning “idiot”. It may also be shortened to simply “2”.

520 wŭèrlíng | I love you

If you can suspend your disbelief, this sounds like 我爱你 wǒ ài nǐ (I love you). Still don't hear the resemblance? Try saying it quickly.

This numeronym is also the reason why May 20th (5/20) is one of the several Chinese Valentine's Days.

1314 yīsānyīsì | I will love you forever

This sounds like the highly romantic phrase 一生一世 yīshēng yīshì, which literally means "one life, one world".

More figuratively, 一生一世 means "a whole lifetime". Aww.

996 jiùjiùliù | Jack Ma's work week

You may remember Alibaba's Jack Ma making headlines (as he does) with his idea of the perfect work week: 9am to 9pm, 6 days a week. Who's in favor?

Want more Chinese slang? Check out this post on some popular online jargon. You can learn more Chinese slang if you sign up for Chinese classes.

About the Author

Eden has been learning Chinese since 2008. She fell in love with the language, food, and culture and never looked back! Eden lived in China for six years, including in Harbin, Beijing, and Dali.

Eden- Author