Numbers are frequently used to replace certain words/phrases in everyday Chinese language, e.g. when instant messaging friends or sending text messages. A few of them, like 4, 6, and 8 are pretty well integrated to everyday life and you’ll encounter their universal meanings wherever you go. All of them are based on homophones, where the sound for the number(s) sounds like something else. Here are some examples:
6: 六 (liù) – Luck. Apparently, this comes from Hong Kong. The pronunciation of the number 6 sounds like the word 祿 (lù). When in Taiwan or China, you’ll notice that any phone numbers or license plates with the numbers 6 and 8 are extremely popular.
8: 八 (bā) – Good luck. This sounds like 發 (fā), the word for luck.
38: 三八 (sānbā) – Silly woman (because March 8 (3/8) is International Women’s Day. Where the negative connotation came from is unclear.)
88: 八八 (bābā) – Bye bye.
520: 我愛你 (wǒàinǐ) – I love you.
530: 我想你 (wǒxiǎngnǐ) – I miss you. / I’m thinking of you.
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