The number four is widely considered unlucky in many parts of Asia.
Why is Four Unlucky?
The primary reason for this superstition stems from the phonetic similarity between the word for "four" in various Asian languages and the word for "death."
- Chinese: The number four (四, sì) sounds very similar to the word for death (死, sǐ).
This resemblance has led to widespread avoidance of the number four in various aspects of life.
Examples of Avoiding the Number Four
The avoidance of the number four can be observed in various practices:
- Building Design: As noted in the reference, buildings in China often lack a fourth floor, similar to how some American buildings skip the 13th floor. This is done to avoid the association with death.
- Phone Numbers and Addresses: People may avoid using the number four in phone numbers, addresses, and other numerical sequences to ward off bad luck.
- Hospital Room Numbers: Hospitals might skip room numbers containing the number four.
In conclusion, due to its similarity in pronunciation to the word for death, the number four is considered unlucky in many Asian cultures.
