Originally, numbers used in daily life only represent symbols. Apart from symbols, they mean nothing. But through using them over time, people endow them many additional connotations.
The Chinese prefer even numbers. They hope “good things should come in pairs”; they expect “two happy events to come at the same time”, and they wish to “make the best of both worlds”. Lovers care deeply about “mutual gratification”, and newly married couples hope to “fly side by side”. Chinese people bless respected elders by saying “I wish you happiness and longevity” and praise others with the words “May you be endowed with both beauty and talent”. In addition, the number of plates on a table should be even, especially for formal banquets. After consulting with a feng shui practitioner, the dates on which marriages are held should be decided according to the lunar and solar calendar. The bridal chamber must be decorated with scissor-cut paper shapes like Double Happiness (Chinese characters).
The Chinese like all even numbers with the exception of “4”, because it sounds like the pronunciation of the Chinese character “Si” (death). The Chinese always avoid using “4” in phone numbers or license plate numbers. It is even more taboo to use “4” and “7” one after another, because it sounds like the pronunciation “Qi Si (wife dead)” or “Si Qi (dead wife)”. Despite the unfortunate connotation of “4”, it is often used in other circumstances. “4” represents a stable tetrahedron. Chinese people always aspire to being “Si Ping Ba Wen” (“steady and cautious)” in order to avoid errors when speaking, writing and handling affairs. Relaxed, slow steps are called “Si Fang Bu” (“solemn measured steps)”. “4” has multifaceted meanings. Neighbors are referred to as “Si Lin”, and looking around is referred to as “Si Gu”. Convenient transportation is called “Si Tong Ba Da”, and places across the country or the world are called “Wu Hu Si Hai”. “Si Da Jie Kong” means everything in the world is empty. “4” also can be used to offer summaries in some instances. The human body contains “Si Zhi (limbs)”. Poetry can be written in the form of “Si Yan (Chinese classical poem with four characters each line)”. The Chinese language has “Si Sheng (four tones)”. “Si Ji” means four seasons. “Wen Fang Si Bao” refers to writing brushes, ink sticks, paper and inkstones.
“6” sounds like “Lu” of “Guan Lu” (“official position”), which refers to official prospects. “6” also has the meaning of smooth. After Spring Festival, Chinese people often travel by train on the 6th or 16th day of the lunar New Year, because of the saying: “Leave home on the 3rd, 6th or 9th day”. People think it better to set out on these days. The use of the phrase “66 Dashun (smooth)” is popular in folk society. What is the relationship between “6” and “smooth”? There are many interpretations. “6” in the Book of Changes represents “Yin Yao” (negative trigram); “66” represents the “Kun” (trigram), and has the meaning of good luck. Others say: “6” sounds like the pronunciation of “Liu” as in “Shun Liu (smooth)”; “66” has the meaning of very smooth. For this reason, Chinese people will solemnly celebrate their 66th birthdays. There are many words which contain the character “Liu (6)”. For example: “Liu Shu (six categories of Chinese characters)” is important in word formation; “Liu Yi” refers to the six classical arts of learning; “Liu Jing” means the Six Classics of Confucianism; “Liu He” means east, west, south, north, up and down; “Liu Chu” refers to pigs, cattle, sheep, horses, chicken and dogs; “Liu Qin Bu Ren” means no ties of friendship; “Si Liu Bu Dong” means belittling others and being unreasonable.
“8” pronounces like the pronunciation of “Fa” in “Fa Cai” or “Fa Jia” (“becoming rich)”, and so represents prosperity and wealth. For this reason, Chinese people prefer to use “8” for the dates of weddings, business openings, birthday banquets, phone numbers and license plate numbers, etc. Even the prices of commodities in stores often end in “8”. For example: if the time is 5:18 or if it is May 18, it is lucky because it means “I want to get rich”; if the time is 9:18 or September 18, it is lucky because it means “I am going to get rich”. Chinese people like “8”, and often use it to summarize many things. For example: “Ba Xian” means the Eight Immortals in myths and legends; “Ba Gua” refers to the Eight Diagrams mentioned in divination; “Sheng Chen Ba Gua” means the date of birth and the eight characters of a horoscope used in fortunetelling; “Ba Bai Zhi Jiao” means a sworn brotherhood; “Ba Yin” refers to the eight categories of musical instrument in an ancient orchestra; “Ba Gu” refers to the famous eight-part essay; “Ba Hang” refers to octonary in letters; in calligraphy “Ba Fen” refers to the calligraphy style-Kai Li; “Si Shi Ba Jie” refers to solar terms and the four seasons; “Si Mian Ba Fang” refers to the places all around; “Ba Xian Guo Hai” means the full display of people’s abilities; “Ba Mian Ling Long” means the tactful handling of affairs; and “Ba Zi Mei Yi Pie” means there is no sign of a positive outcome.
“10” is a symbol of perfection. The number “10” is often used for the selection of outstanding people in all walks of life. For example, we often hear phrases like “Top 10 Outstanding Youth” and “Top 10 Models”, etc. “Shi Fen Hao” has the meaning of very good; “Shi Zu De Huang Jin” means gold which is very pure; “Shi Quan Shi Mei” has the meaning of perfection in every respect; “Shi Na Jiu Wen” means being very certain. “10” also has additional meanings, such as “Shi Shi Jiu Kong”, “Shi Nian Shu Mu”, “Shi Li Chang Ting” and so on.