[선발]ING-영자신문

Superstition Relating To Numbers About Chinese

10420 Rim Jieun

  There are various ethnic groups in China. Since China has a very large territory, it has many different superstitions from nation to nation, and region to region. Among them, the largest proportion is superstition that related to numbers.

The majority of Chinese believe in superstitions related to numbers. So, they have a preferred number and a non-preferred number. First of all, majority chinese's preference number is four things.

  The first number is 8. The majority of Chinese prefer 8. The majority of Chinese prefer number 8. Because the number 8 is similar F？ of F？cai the local dialect of "Guangdong" in China, and it is considered lucky. That means "earning money." So, they prefer 8. Secondly preferring number is 6. The number 6 has similar pronunciation with Liu the means "smooth". Therefore, it means "Everything is smooth" and it is the reason why they prefer number 6. Next is 9. Because the number 9 is similar with pronunciation to Ji？, which means "long life", and it is considered to mean eternity, longevity. Lastly, the majority of Chinese preferring number is 2. Most of Chinese consider one is anxious, but the two paired number consider stable. So they like even-number more than odd-number. Number 2 is representative of even-number, so they prefer 2. Until now, the number about preferred by most of Chinese.

  Next number is the number most Chinese dislike. First number is 4. We usually think most Chinese's preference number is 4. But it's not. Most Chinese regard number 4 as an ominous number. Because 4 is similar with pronunciation of Si that means 'die'. So, the majority of Chinese don't prefer number 4. Secondly is 7. There is a word Sh？ngqi in Chinese, which means "take angry". qi of Sh？ngqi is similar with pronunciation the number 7, so Chinese consider it brings anger. That's why they avoid the number 7. Lastly, the number 3. Number 3 is similar with pronunciation to s？n, which means "disperse". Therefore they consider that their property disperse. Thus they hate number 3.

  Until now, it has been the number most of Chinese prefer and the number they do not. Of course all of them don't. In all of the above, the majority of Chinese liking and disliking numbers seems to be in accordance with the meaning of the word. In addition, if we remove superstitions from the Chinese people, we even think that they are no different from dead bodies. Also, we can feel that between our people and Chinese’s thinking is very different about the numbers. It may this difference appears from culture. That much so that superstitions are inscribed in Chinese people’s lives and in their hearts.