Chinese number definitions
Cantonese frequently associate numbers with the following connotations (based on its sound), which may differ in other Chinese languages:
1.一 [jɐ́t] – sure
2.二 [ji̭ː] – easy 易 [ji̭ː]
3.三 [sáːm] – live 生 [sáːŋ] but it can also be seen as a halved eight when using Arabic numerals (3) (8) and so considered unlucky.
4.四 [sēi] – considered unlucky since 4 is a homophone with the word for death or suffering 死 [sěi], yet in the Shanghainese, it is a homophone of water (水)and is considered lucky since water is associated with money.
5.五 [ŋ̬] – the self, me, myself 吾 [ŋ̭], nothing, never 唔 [ŋ, m][need tone] in the Shanghainese, it is a homophone of fish (鱼)
6.六 [lùːk] – easy and smooth, all the way
7.七 [tsʰɐ́t] – a slang/vulgar word in Cantonese.
8.八 [pāːt] – sudden fortune, prosperity 發 [fāːt]
9.九 [kɐ̌u] – long in time 久 [kɐ̌u], enough 夠 [kɐ̄u] or a slang/vulgar word derived from dog 狗 [kɐ̌u] in Cantonese
Some "lucky number" combinations include:
99 – doubly long in time, hence eternal; used in the name of a popular Chinese American supermarket chain, 99 Ranch Market.
168 – many premium-pay telephone numbers in China begin with this number, which is considered lucky. It is also the name of a motel chain in China (Motel 168).
888 – Three times the prosperity, means "wealthy wealthy wealthy".