Soldato
- Joined
- 5 Feb 2009
- Posts
- 3,920
What negative connotations are those?
Well, in Chinese and Japanese it's pronounced the same as the word for death and so it's considered the most unlucky number. Less sure about why in Korean but I'm pretty sure it's unlucky there too.
Most Japanese and Chinese hotels, apartment buildings, airlines, etc. skip the number 4 for room/seat numbers (and 9 in Japan too, because it's pronounced the same as the word for suffering).
So, I can't see a Korean firm calling something the xxx4, and it would have bad connotations in the Japanese and Chinese markets too.
As I say, not sure if this is just something it's to be called in Europe/North America, or just something a translator has dropped in for some reason, but it does sound a bit off as it is.
Edit: Yes, a bit Googling reveals that it is indeed considered unlucky in Korea as well, and for the same reason - being a homophone for "death". Oh, in Vietnam as well, I see. Well, you learn something new every day. I had no idea the original Chinese reading of that numeral had spread to all those countries.
Last edited: