Why do Chinese avoid the number 4 but love the number 8?

Chinese buyers have a propensity for certain numbers, especially the lucky numbers 6, 8, and 9. We sum up why these numbers are lucky in Chinese culture:
  • 6 (å…­; liù): Sounds similar to the Chinese word for ‘flow’ in Mandarin, thus 6 indicates ‘everything will run smoothly’
  • 8 (å…«; bā): The luckiest number for Chinese, 8 sounds like "to prosper" in Mandarin, hence it signifies prosperity and wealth in Chinese belief
  • 9 (九; jiÇ”): Denotes 'longevity', as it sounds similar to the Chinese word for ‘longlasting’ and ‘permanence’. Historically, 9 is also traditionally associated with the Chinese emperor, who had 9 dragons on his imperial robes.
4, though, is generally considered the most inauspicious number for Chinese because it sounds like the Chinese word for "death". Hence, addresses with the number 4 are less attractive, and it would be advisable to change it in order to make properties more appealing to Chinese buyers.
Before you scoff, a savvy agent in Australia changed the number of a luxury home from an inauspicious 64 to lucky 66 – a move which resulted in a A$8.5 million sale to a Chinese buyer.
This is because 66 is reminiscent of the Chinese phrase "六六大顺" (liù liù dà shùn), which roughly translates into "things going doubly smoothly."
Even international developers are catching on this this penchant as well – entire floors bearing the number 4 have disappeared from certain new developments in Australia.
In short, while it may raise some brows and seem plain superstitious, the more the numbers 6, 8 or 9 are included in a house number, floor level or price, the better it’ll be at attracting Chinese property investors.