Has a Chinese friend ever texted you a cryptic number combination out of nowhere, like 666, 888, or 520? If so, that’s because these are all internet slang with hidden meanings! If you’ve received a “520” for example, you must be fortunate – because that’s a love confession.
To understand Chinese number slang, you must understand that numbers hold a very special significance in Chinese culture. As Chinese people attach so much value to auspicious numbers like 8 that car plates and phone numbers with an abundance of them have auctioned for up to millions of US dollars! And if you ever have to guess a Wi-Fi password in China, your best bet is probably ‘88888888’. Equally, 4 is deemed so unlucky that the fourth and fourteenth floors of buildings are often replaced with “3B” and “13B”. And the internet is just another context in which this unique cultural phenomenon plays out! In this article, we will explain why this is the case, as well as introduce you to all the most popular and essential top Chinese number slang.
Why are Number Slang so Common in Chinese?
The widespread use of number slang on the Chinese internet can be attributed to the abundance of homophones in Mandarin. Due to the language’s relatively limited phonetic inventory, many Chinese characters share identical or similar pronunciations but have very different meanings. This linguistic feature has long been utilized by Chinese people to form various puns and double entendres – not only with, but including with numbers! The reason that “6” (liù) and 8 (bā) are considered lucky, for example, is because they sound like “溜” (liù) for “smooth” and “发” (fā) “get rich” respectively, while 4 (sì) is unlucky because it sounds like “死” (sǐ) for “death”.
We have previously delved into these meanings attached to Chinese numbers generally – this blog post will focus on the use of them in the social media context, as the rise of digital communication naturally also brought homophonic wordplay into online spaces. In chatrooms and microblog posts, where brevity and speed are important, Chinese number slang emerged as a convenient and playful way to convey messages.
Recap of Chinese Numbers Pronunciation
First, here’s a recap of how to pronounce the numbers 0-9 in Chinese.
Zero (0): 零 (líng)
One (1): 一 (yī)
Two (2): 二 (èr)
Three (3): 三 (sān)
Four (4): 四 (sì)
Five (5): 五 (wǔ)
Six (6): 六 (liù)
Seven (7):七 (qī)
Eight (8): 八 (bā)
Nine (9): 九 (jiǔ)
Ten Must-know Chinese Number Slang Meanings Explained
Meaning of the Chinese internet slang “520” explained
520 (wǔ èr líng) → 我爱你 (wǒ ài nǐ) → “I love you”
The Chinese number slang 520 (wǔ èr líng) is used to express love, similar to “ILY” in English, because it sounds like 我爱你 (wǒ ài nǐ), meaning “I love you”. Sometimes you may see the extended version “5201314”, where “1314” (yī sān yī sì) represents 一生一世 (yī shēng yī shì), meaning “for a lifetime”. And a particularly good day to say “5201314”, “I love you for a lifetime”, to your lover would be on the 20th of May, which, because of this number slang, has become like an unofficial Valentine’s Day in China!
Meaning of the Chinese number slang “666” explained
666 (liù liù liù) → 溜溜溜 (liù liù liù) → “Awesome”
The Chinese number slang 666 (liù liù liù) comes from the number 6 (liù) in Chinese being a homophone for “溜” (liù), meaning “smooth”. 666 started as gaming slang to praise a skilled player, like “GG” in English, but is now a general term for “awesome” – usually used to praise someone who did something very impressively or “smoothly”. If you want to be a bit more lowkey, you can also just go ‘6’.
Meaning of the Chinese number slang “886” explained
- (bā bā) → 拜拜 (bai bai) → “Bye-bye”
The Chinese number slang 88 (bā bā) is like a Mandarin equivalent of the English expressions “catch you later” or “see ya!”, as it sounds like “bye-bye” in English, or 拜拜 (bai bai) written in Chinese characters. Sometimes you may see it as “886” for “拜拜了” (bai bai le), where the “了” makes it extra casual and friendly. You may for example end a chat with a friend by saying “我要走了，886” (I have to go, bye-bye le!).
Meaning of the Chinese number slang “520” explained
748 (qī sì bā) → 去死吧 → “Go and die”
The Chinese number slang 748 (qī sì bā) is used as a harsh but playful way to tell someone off as it sounds like “去死吧” (qù sǐ ba) – meaning literally “go and die”, but used like “Go to hell” or “Get lost”. Maybe use this one sparingly…
Meaning of the Chinese number slang “555” explained
555 (wǔ wǔ wǔ) →呜呜呜 ‘wūwūwū’ → The sound of crying
The Chinese number slang 555 (wǔwǔwǔ) is used to express sadness and pity as it sounds like the呜呜呜 (wūwūwū) – an onomatopoeia for the sound of sobbing or whimpering. Like “boo-hoo-hoo” in English, it can also be used hyperbolically or ironically, a bit as if you were acting like a spoiled, whiny child.
Meaning of the Chinese number slang “94” explained
94 (jiǔ sì) → 就是 (jiù shì) → “Exactly / That’s right”
The Chinese number slang 94 (jiǔ sì) is commonly used in online conversations as a shorthand for 就是 (jiù shì), meaning “exactly” or “that’s right.” It’s often used to agree with or emphasize a statement. For example, if your study buddy says, “Learning Mandarin is so hard, but I think we should be proud of our persistence!” you might reply with “94!” or “94啊!” to agree enthusiastically. To be extra enthusiastic – you can double it and say “9494!”.
Meaning of the Chinese number slang “3Q” explained
3Q (sān ‘Q’) → Thank you
The Chinese number slang 3Q is not strictly just a number slang, but the number-letter combo has become an informal way of expressing gratitude online as the number 3 (sān) is read out together with ‘Q’ (pronounced ‘kiew’ just like in English) sounds like “Thank you” in English.
Meaning of the Chinese number slang “233” explained
233 → 哈哈哈 → LOL
The Chinese number slang ‘233’ is used to convey laughter like “LOL” in English, and is different from the other Chinese number slang in that it is not a homophone for anything. Instead, it emerged because on a social networking site called 猫扑 (māo pū), 233 was the code for a GIF emoticon laughing hard and pounding the floor. As this emoticon became popular, people started referring to it just by its code 233. You can add any number of 3’s at the end, like 2333333, to convey harder laughter.
Meaning of the Chinese number slang “995” explained
995 (jiǔ jiǔ wǔ) → 救救我 (jiù jiù wǒ) → “Help me!”
The Chinese number slang 995 (jiǔ jiǔ wǔ) is used to express a cry for help, as it sounds like 救救我 (jiù jiù wǒ), meaning “save me” or “help me” in Mandarin. It is commonly used online humorously or exaggeratedly to express frustration, desperation, or being overwhelmed—similar to saying “SOS” in English internet slang. For example, next time you are struggling with your Mandarin vocabulary, you could text your Chinese friends “995!!!” and hope for rescue.
Meaning of the Chinese number slang “918” explained
918 (jiǔ yāo bā) → 加油吧 (jiā yóu ba) → “Good luck” / “Come on!”
The Chinese number slang 918 (jiǔ yāo bā) can be used to cheer someone on, as it sounds like 加油吧 (jiā yóu ba), meaning “Good luck” or “Come on!” in Chinese. It’s commonly used in online chats to offer encouragement and support, similar to saying “You got this!” or “Go for it!” in English. Whether a friend is about to take an exam, start a new job, or just needs a little boost to get out of bed, you can send them 918 to show your support.
What is the Most Effective Way to Learn Chinese Number Slang?
The best way to learn Chinese internet slang is, like with any Chinese vocabulary, by using them! While number combinations may be easier to memorize than characters, it may take some time to get a feel for the exact feeling they convey, or when they are appropriate. And with online language constantly evolving, internet slang goes in and out of fashion all the time. By directly engaging in online conversations with Chinese people, you can observe what slang native speakers use and how – and also have them correct you if you use something wrong or outdated. In this article, we have written about how you can use the Chinese social media app RedNote to make Chinese friends, along with some other tips for leveraging the platform as a Mandarin learning tool!
Why Should I Learn Chinese Number Slang as a Mandarin Learner?
Chinese people are some of the most active social media users in the world, so learning their internet slang is a must if you are looking to fully immerse yourself in contemporary Chinese culture. Moreover, the best way to improve your Chinese conversation skills is through engaging in real conversations with real native speakers – but unless you are lucky enough to live in China, these conversations will likely be happening online. If you master some playful Chinese internet slang, these chats will feel a lot more natural and engaging both you and your conversation partner! Just remember that Chinese number slang, like most other slang, is very casual and probably not appropriate for formal contexts or with people you don’t know well.
Ready now to put this new Chinese internet slang vocab into practice but overwhelmed by the Chinese social media landscape? Read our article ‘The Ultimate Chinese Social Media Vocabulary Guide’ for an overview of the most popular Chinese social media platforms, and all the must-know vocabulary for navigating them.
FAQ
What is the meaning of the Chinese internet slang 666?
The Chinese internet slang 666 (liù liù liù) basically means “awesome” because the number six in Chinese sounds like “溜” (liù), meaning “smooth”. 666 started as gaming slang to praise a skilled player, like “GG” in English, but is now used generally to praise someone for doing something very impressively or “smoothly”.
What is the meaning of the Chinese internet slang 520?
The number combination 520 (wǔ èr líng) is a Chinese internet slang for expressing love, similar to “ILY” in English, because it sounds like 我爱你 (wǒ ài nǐ), meaning “I love you”.
What is the meaning of the Chinese internet slang 748?
The Chinese internet slang 748 is used like “Go to hell” or “Get lost”, as the number combination 748 (qī sì bā) sounds like “去死吧” (qù sǐ ba) – meaning literally “go and die”.
What is the meaning of the Chinese internet slang 3Q?
The Chinese internet slang 3Q is a playful way of saying “thank you”. It comes from the pronunciation of “3” (sān) and the letter “Q,” which sounds similar to the English phrase “thank you.”
Author Bio:
Vivianne Zhang Wei is a Swedish-born Chinese social sciences graduate of University College London. Particularly interested in the ethnographic study of rural China, agriculture, and biopolitics, she has spent the past year travelling around and writing about farms in the Chinese countryside. Previously, she has also organised and taught non-profit English language summer camps for young students in rural China, won national awards in student journalism, and worked in the media and communications industry.
