The statement "there is no 4 in China" is an oversimplification, but it reflects the widespread cultural aversion to the number 4 due to its phonetic similarity to the word for "death" in Chinese.
Here's a breakdown:
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Phonetic Similarity: In many Chinese dialects, the pronunciation of the number 4 (四, sì) is very similar to the pronunciation of the word for death (死, sǐ). This resemblance makes the number 4 unlucky.
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Cultural Superstition: This phonetic association has led to a strong superstition against the number 4 in Chinese culture. This superstition is known as Tetraphobia.
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Practical Manifestations: This fear manifests in several ways:
- Building Numbers: Just as some Western cultures avoid the 13th floor, buildings in China (and other East Asian countries influenced by Chinese culture) often skip floors numbered 4, 14, 24, etc. They might go directly from floor 3 to floor 5.
- Apartment Numbers: Similarly, apartment numbers containing the number 4 are considered undesirable.
- Phone Numbers and License Plates: People actively avoid phone numbers and license plates that contain the number 4. This avoidance can impact the value of these items. Some people are even willing to pay extra for numbers considered lucky, like 8 (which sounds like "wealth").
- Other Contexts: The avoidance of 4 extends to other areas, such as gift-giving. Giving someone four of something can be considered bad luck.
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It's Not a Complete Absence: It's crucial to understand that the number 4 does exist in China. People use it in counting and other everyday contexts. However, its use is often minimized in situations where it's considered unlucky.
In summary, while the number 4 exists and is used in China, its association with death leads to widespread avoidance in many aspects of life due to cultural superstition.
