JournalThe Kotoba Interactive journal.
Editorial features on the cultures, history and languages of Asia. Filter by culture, by topic, or search for what inspires you.
Discover 2 articles
ChinaTraditions6 min
Chinese numbers: why 4 frightens and 8 sells
The 4 that sounds like death, the 8 that sounds like wealth: how homophony governs floors, licence plates, gifts and prices in China.
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ChinaSociety6 min
4 and 8 across Asia: the map of lucky and unlucky numbers
China, Japan, Korea: three languages, three sets of homophones, the same fourth floor missing from the lifts. A comparative table of the digits.
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