Mar 27, 2012 · Because the number four is considered unlucky on such a broad scale, you'll see many examples of this fear in daily life across almost all East-Asian cultures. You never want to give four of something (try three or five instead).

The numbers 4 and 9 are considered unlucky in Japanese: 4, when pronounced shi, sounds like the word for death (死), and 9, when pronounced ku, sounds like the word for suffering (苦). So they are often pronounced yon and kyu instead.

The unluckiness of the number four is one such example, as the Japanese word for "four" 四 romaji: shi is a homophone for "death" kanji: 死. The same is true for Chinese, hanzi: 死 pinyin: sǐ, is also homophonous to "death." However, unlike most other countries, in Japan, a black cat crossing one's path is considered to bring good luck. [2]

Tetraphobia (from Ancient Greek τετράς (tetrás) 'four' and Ancient Greek φόβος (phóbos) 'fear') is the practice of avoiding instances of the digit 4. It is a superstition most common in East Asian nations and is associated with death. [1]

In modern Japanese, cardinal numbers except 4 and 7 are generally given the on readings.

Apr 16, 2018 · Actually, the primary reason we hate 4 as an unlucky number is because of one of its Japanese pronunciations “Shi”. The pronunciation, “4 (Shi)” is associated with the word meaning death “死 (Shi)”, which is pronounced the same way as 4 in Japanese.

Feb 3, 2023 · Perhaps the most famously unlucky number in Japan, four signifies death. So don’t be surprised if, at some point, you notice Japanese people avoiding this exceptionally ominous digit. Sometimes pronounced “shi,” the number four is symbolized by a Chinese character that translates to death.

Nov 13, 2024 · Have you ever tried learning the Japanese language and stumbled upon the number 4, only to find out it’s considered bad luck? It can be unclear and even unsettling, especially when starting. But don’t worry! We’re here to demystify why Japanese people see 4 as an unlucky number, and how you can navigate this cultural nuance like a pro.

Sep 16, 2024 · Yon is the typical reading of 4 in Japanese, except when counting months. When in doubt, use yon. Nana is the most common reading of 7, however shichi is often acceptable, for example when naming months. Why do Japanese numbers have different pronunciations? We’ll start with a general question and then narrow down to 4 and 7.

Dec 26, 2024 · The number 4 (四, “shi”) sounds like the word for death (死, also “shi”), while 9 (九, “ku”) sounds like the word for suffering (苦, “ku”). These associations make these numbers unwelcome in settings like hospitals, where rooms may omit these numbers entirely.