May 6, 2014 at 12:47The digital code of Chinese domains
Many have long noticed that among the inhabitants of China, domains consisting of only numbers are very popular for which they are willing to give a considerable amount. Recently, even five-digit names have been in demand, some of which they are willing to buy for several hundred dollars. We decided to find out the cause of this phenomenon.
According to experts, it is much easier for the Chinese to remember a sequence of numbers than a combination of Latin letters or a word in English. Yes, every Chinese learns in the school the Pinyin transliteration system, which transmits the sound of Chinese words in Latin: for example, the word 网络 (Internet) in Latin is transmitted as “wangluo”. However, most Chinese people, especially those who have not graduated from college, find it easier to use numbers.
Often numbers are used to convey homophonic words (i.e., similar in sound). For example, the site of the popular Alibaba payment system is located on the domain 1688.com. The combination of numbers 1-6-8-8 is pronounced "yo-le-ba-ba" - pretty similar. Sometimes even one digit is enough: for the well-known video portal 6.cn, such a name is chosen, because the name of the digit “six” in Chinese sounds like the word “broadcast”.
From numbers you can create whole phrases. For example, “5” is pronounced “wu” in Chinese. It sounds like the word “in”, which means “I”. “1” - pronounced as “yao”, which when changing intonation will mean “I want”. Therefore, the 51job.com job search site means "I want to (find) a job." And if you want to order food, visit 4008-517-517.com, because “517” sounds like the phrase “I am hungry.”
Here are the main meanings of the numbers used in China:
1 - “I want”
2 - “I love”
4 - “dead”, “world” or an analogue of the verb-connective is
5 - “I”
7 - “wife” or “is” ( eat)
8 - “get rich” or “not” (negative particle)
9 - “long time” or “alcohol”
There are many generally accepted combinations of numbers that correspond to frequently used phrases. For example, 5201314 means 我 爱 你 一生一世 (“I will love you forever”). 0748 means "die," and 687 means "sorry." In slang, especially in network communication, often use numbers, words, such as 250 (sounds like erbaiwu - "idiot") or 38 (sanba - "bitch").
The Chinese also have lucky and unlucky numbers. They try to avoid the number 4, associated with the concept of death, and consider the happy number 8, which is associated with wealth.
So, in 2003, one of the Chinese airlines bought a phone number 88888888 for 280 thousand dollars.
According to experts, it is much easier for the Chinese to remember a sequence of numbers than a combination of Latin letters or a word in English. Yes, every Chinese learns in the school the Pinyin transliteration system, which transmits the sound of Chinese words in Latin: for example, the word 网络 (Internet) in Latin is transmitted as “wangluo”. However, most Chinese people, especially those who have not graduated from college, find it easier to use numbers.
Often numbers are used to convey homophonic words (i.e., similar in sound). For example, the site of the popular Alibaba payment system is located on the domain 1688.com. The combination of numbers 1-6-8-8 is pronounced "yo-le-ba-ba" - pretty similar. Sometimes even one digit is enough: for the well-known video portal 6.cn, such a name is chosen, because the name of the digit “six” in Chinese sounds like the word “broadcast”.
From numbers you can create whole phrases. For example, “5” is pronounced “wu” in Chinese. It sounds like the word “in”, which means “I”. “1” - pronounced as “yao”, which when changing intonation will mean “I want”. Therefore, the 51job.com job search site means "I want to (find) a job." And if you want to order food, visit 4008-517-517.com, because “517” sounds like the phrase “I am hungry.”
Here are the main meanings of the numbers used in China:
1 - “I want”
2 - “I love”
4 - “dead”, “world” or an analogue of the verb-connective is
5 - “I”
7 - “wife” or “is” ( eat)
8 - “get rich” or “not” (negative particle)
9 - “long time” or “alcohol”
There are many generally accepted combinations of numbers that correspond to frequently used phrases. For example, 5201314 means 我 爱 你 一生一世 (“I will love you forever”). 0748 means "die," and 687 means "sorry." In slang, especially in network communication, often use numbers, words, such as 250 (sounds like erbaiwu - "idiot") or 38 (sanba - "bitch").
The Chinese also have lucky and unlucky numbers. They try to avoid the number 4, associated with the concept of death, and consider the happy number 8, which is associated with wealth.
So, in 2003, one of the Chinese airlines bought a phone number 88888888 for 280 thousand dollars.
