On 8s and 4s in Vanity Phone Numbers: Why a vanity phone number with 8 is popular for the Chinese

Every culture in the world has certain numbers that mean good luck and bad luck. For example, in American and European cultures, the number 7 is considered to be a lucky number. It is lucky to find all 7’s on the slot machine, wait for the 7th-inning stretch in a baseball game, or even look forward to the 7th day of the week. On the other hand, 13 is thought to bring bad luck. Friday the 13^th carries an ominous connotation, buildings avoid a 13th floor, and scaffolds have a ladder with 13 rungs.

Likewise, in Chinese culture, the number 8 is associated with good luck, while the number 4 is considered to be bad luck. The reason lies in the characteristics of the Chinese language. The word for 8 in Chinese sounds similar to the words that are used for “prosper” or “wealth.” Additionally, the Arabic numeral for the number 8 looks similar to some Chinese writing that translates into “double joy,” “joy,” or “happiness.”

Contrary to the number 8, many Chinese people will avoid vanity numbers with the number 4. Again, the answer lies in the language. In Chinese, the word for 4 sounds similar to the Chinese word for “death.” No one wants to call you if you are a risk to their life, so the Chinese will tend to avoid vanity phone numbers that have the number 4 in it. This is part of the reason why cell phone manufacturer Nokia skipped over version 4 of their phones and went to version 5. The company was afraid that the superstitious would not purchase the phone.

Because of the happy connotation of the number 8, Chinese people – and those of other Asian cultures – like to purchase vanity numbers that have the number 8. For them, it is a superstition that 8 brings prosperity. Since people like to dial the “Lucky 8″ when they make a phone call, you may be considered a good person to talk to on the phone. That’s why a vanity phone number with 8 is popular for the Chinese.

If you happened to have been unlucky enough to get a phone number that has a 4, you can always purchase your very own vanity phone number from PhoneNumberGuy.com, the largest seller of vanity phone numbers. You can also request a number with a lot of 8’s in it!

PhoneNumberGuy will guarantee that your vanity number can be ported across wireless carriers or VoIP services. If for some reason you can’t use the number you selected, they will refund your money.

If you run a small business, you may want to purchase an easy-to-remember vanity number that will help associate your business with good luck. PhoneNumberGuy  will be able to give you a bulk discount if you need multiple numbers, or you can always purchase your own individual number if it is a personal phone line.