Four, the Unlucky Number in the East
In many Asian cultures, the number 4 is deeply associated with misfortune, death, and bad omens.
In countries like China, Japan, and Korea, this superstition is not a mere popular myth but a deeply ingrained belief that influences daily life, architecture, and technology.
Unlike in the West, where the number 13 often represents bad luck, in East Asia, it is the number 4 that evokes rejection, fear, and systematic avoidance.
Why is the number 4 associated with misfortune?
The origin of this superstition is primarily linguistic.
In Mandarin Chinese, the number 4 is pronounced sì (四), very similarly to the word sǐ (死), which means “death.”
This phonetic coincidence has, for centuries, generated a strong psychological association between the number and death.
In Japanese, something similar occurs: the number 4 can be pronounced shi, which also means “death.”
In Korean, the reading sa (사) also shares this connotation.
This triple cultural coincidence has solidified the idea of 4 as an unlucky number throughout East Asia.
The number 4 in everyday life: calls, time, and numbering
The superstition is not limited to the symbolic realm.
In China, Japan, and Korea, the number 4 is actively avoided in multiple areas:
- Building numbering: it is common for the 4th floor not to exist, going directly from the 3rd to the 5th.
- Hospitals: rooms, beds, or operating rooms with the number 4 are often omitted.
- Phone numbers: calls and phone lines containing multiple "4s" are considered very unlucky. No one wants to receive calls from numbers associated with death.
- License plates and tickets: combinations with the number 4 are avoided.
- Time measurement: in some traditional contexts, time slots or dates associated with 4 are considered unfavorable for weddings, trips, or important business.
In Japan, even gifts are avoided in groups of four, as giving “four objects” is interpreted as a bad omen.
The number 4 versus the number 8: bad and good luck
In contrast, the number 8 is considered a lucky number in China due to its pronunciation being similar to the word "prosperity."
This opposition has further reinforced the negative character of the number 4, creating a clear duality between fortune and misfortune.
It is no coincidence that important events, such as the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, were inaugurated on 08/08/08, while dates with the number 4 are avoided for various important celebrations.
The number 4 in movies, TV series, and anime
This superstition has been widely exploited in popular culture:
- In Japanese and Korean horror cinema: films and series use numerical symbolism related to death, where 4 appears repeatedly in rooms, key sequences, phone calls, clocks, or case numbers linked to deaths.
- In Chinese culture: in suspense and psychological horror films, the number 4 is used as a warning or a premonition of tragedy.
Although not always explicitly mentioned, the Asian audience immediately recognizes the symbolism.
