What is good luck or good fortune in Mandarin Chinese?
Luck in Chinese is 运 (yùn) or 运气 (yùn qì) . The Chinese word 运 in itself means transport / ship / fortune / luck. How do you say good luck in Chinese then? As you may already know, good in Chinese expression is 好, so good luck is 好运. When you want to wish someone to have good luck, you can say 祝你好运 (zhù nǐ hǎo yùn) .
Good luck in Chinese culture
Whether Chinese or Western culture, we all want to have good luck. Chinese luck comes in many forms. Chinese good luck characters, animals, numbers, colors, birds, fruits and many more. Luck in Chinese culture has strong relations to feng shui practice as well.
7 Chinese lucky symbols
1. Chinese good luck character
The Chinese character 福 is commonly used during the Chinese New Year. Chinese like to hang Chinese New Year decoration that has this Chinese word on it. And, they will purposely hang this lucky Chinese character upside down. By doing so, it symbolizes good fortune and good luck will come to one’s home. 福倒 (fú dào) , the Chinese word 倒 dao has the same sound as 到 dao.
2. Chinese good luck bird
In the Western culture, Magpies are associated with evil and bad fortune. However, in the Chinese culture, Magpies symbolizes good luck, joy and fortune. The Chinese believe that if one sees a Magpie, one’s good luck will arrive. Magpie in Chinese is 喜鹊 (xǐ què) . The Chinese word 喜 (xǐ) symbolizes joy and happiness, and 鹊 (què) means Magpie. Therefore, when you see a Magpie, you will soon have good luck in Chinese beliefs.
Just like Japanese and Koreans, cranes in Chinese culture play a vital role in the Chinese mythology as well. As cranes symbolize in longevity, purity, good fortune and peace, it is thus the second most favored bird symbols after the phoenix. Cranes are also known as the prince of all feathered creatures.
3. Chinese good luck animals
I am sure you have heard the 4 mystic creatures – dragon 龙 (lóng) , phoenix 凤 (fèng) , kirin 麒麟 (qí lín) and tortoise 龟 (guī) in Chinese culture. But, do you know that bats, deer and elephants are good luck animals in Chinese beliefs as well?
BATS
In Western culture, bats have always been associated with vampires, as blood sucking creatures or something that is dark and evil. However, in Chinese culture, especially Chinese feng shui, bats are symbol for wealth because the Chinese translation for bats is 蝙蝠 (biān fú) . And the Chinese word 蝠 (fú) has the same Chinese pinyin as 福 (fú) , the Chinese translation for fortune or happiness. If you place 5 bats together, they represent the Chinese symbolism of the ‘Five Blessings’ (wufu 五福): long life, wealth, health, love of virtue and a peaceful death.
Deers
Deers in Chinese culture are good luck animals because the Chinese translation for deer is 鹿 (lù). This Chinese word has the same Chinese pinyin as 禄 (lù), which has the meaning of good fortune.
Elephants
In Thailand and India, elephants are good luck animals as well. In Thailand, elephants are their national animal. Chang, meaning elephant in Thai language, is a symbol of longevity, strength and durability. White elephant is a symbol for royalty.
In India too, elephant are important in the Indian mythology. Elephant symbolizes wisdom and great intellect for the Indians and one of their popular Indian deities, Lord Ganesha bears an elephant head.
Elephant in Chinese culture symbolizes auspiciousness, propitious and luck. Just like the animals deers and bats, the Chinese pinyin for elephant 象 (xiàng) sounds like 祥(xiáng).
4. Chinese good luck numbers
Number 8
In Chinese culture, other than the numbers 4 and 7, the rest of the numbers are good luck numbers in Chinese beliefs. Chinese all over the world love the number 8 because it sounds as 发 (fā), symbolizing prosperity and wealth. This is contrary to the culture in the West. In the West, they consider number 7 as a lucky number.
Number 4
Why is the number 4 unlucky? This again has to do with the pinyin or Chinese pronunciation of the Chinese word. Number 4 sounds similar to the Chinese word 死 (sǐ), which symbolizes death in Chinese.
Number 7
Chinese don’t really like the number 7 because this number relates to the 7th month (ghostly month), where the gate of hell opens for the dead to visit the living. And the Chinese pronunciation of this Chinese word is very similar to 欺 (qī), which symbolize cheat or bully in Chinese.
Number 1, 2, 3 and 5
The numbers 1 and 2 represent the Yin and the Yang. 1 is Yin and 2 is Yang, hence they are both auspicious numbers. Number 3 sounds like the Chinese word “生 (shēng) birth”. Number 5 represents the 5 elements and thus is a good luck number in Chinese beliefs. However, some Chinese do not consider the number 5 as a good luck number because it sounds like 无 (wú), which means nothing in Chinese.
Number 6
Number 6 has the meaning of luck in the Chinese culture because it means everything is smooth sailing. Unlike the Western culture where 666 represents the devil, Chinese beliefs considered the number 66 as lucky as seen in the Chinese idioms 六六大顺 ( liù liù dà shùn) . This Chinese idiom has the meaning great success and smoothness in everything that one does.
Number 9
Number 9 in Chinese is greatly welcome and accepted in weddings and birthdays as it means eternity and long lasting. This Chinese number 9 is also said to be traditionally associated with the Chinese emperor.
5. Chinese good luck colors
Not only numbers, every culture has its own color preferences. The French love grey, white, pink and yellow. Germans prefer brown, black and dark blue. Chinese on the other hand consider red and yellow to be lucky colors in Chinese beliefs.
Chinese preference for the color red is not something new. In Chinese culture, red color means warm, festive, lively and filled with emotional senses. That is why, the red packets that children receive during Chinese new year is 红包 (hóng bāo) , which is red packet in English translations. The bonus one receives from the company at the end of the year is 年终花红 (nián zhōng huā hóng) . Countries like Hong Kong, Malaysia and Singapore broadly use this Chinese expressions. Another Chinese expression is 分红 (fēn hóng). This is the money shareholders or business partners receive when the company earns profit.
Have you heard of this Chinese phrase 红娘 (hóng niáng) ? The literal translation in English is red mother. Well, it is not red mother but rather a match maker. It’s like a person playing cupid in the Western culture.
Another color which represents China more than the color red is the good luck color yellow. Not only does yellow equate wealth, it also represents royal and power. The robes worn by the China Emperors were bright yellow. The decorations in the royal palace were mainly yellow as well.
6. Chinese good luck fruits
What kind of fruits do you like to eat? If apple is one of them, you are lucky. Apple is a goodluck fruit in Chinese beliefs. It presents peace and safety. It is one of the fruits Chinese must have during the Chinese New Year.
The other good luck fruits are oranges and pomelo. These fruits are good luck in Chinese because the names of the fruits sound auspicious. Pomelo in Chinese is 柚子(yòu zi) . The Chinese word 柚 (yòu) sounds similar to 佑 (yòu) , to be blessed. As you may have guessed it, orange is a good luck fruit because the Chinese expression for orange is 桔子(jú zi) . 桔(jú) and 吉(jí) are similar in sound and thus is a fruit that bring in luck and prosperity.
As for pomegranates, do you know why it is a good luck fruit in Chinese beliefs? This fruit is a symbol of fertility and abundance for the abundance of sees inside the pomegranate fruits. The seed 籽(zǐ) and 子(zi) has the similar Chinese pinyin. Therefore, in Chinese culture, newlyweds are often advised to display pomegranates as a Chinese good luck charm at home to attract luck and fertility to the family
7. Chinese good luck plants
Chinese luck can be found in all types of plants as well. Plum 梅(méi) , Chinese traditional flower, is highly seen as strong, noble and humble. Thus, Chinese associates this Chinese flower as a lucky symbol of spring festival.
The next lucky plant is Panda’s favorite food, Bamboo 竹 (zhú) . Bamboo has been rooted in Chinese culture for a long time. Chinese view bamboo as a symbol of traditional Chinese values. It is given the title of “gentleman” for the plant symbolizes modesty, chastity and honor. In actual fact, bamboo, plum and pine have been known as the “three winter friends”.
Just like the bamboo, pine trees 松树(sōng shù) symbolize longevity. And, as they are evergreen trees, they are greatly loved not only in the East, but also in the West as well.
Chinese superstitions or Chinese symbolism
In summary, whether you believe the above to be just some Chinese superstitions or Chinese symbolism, one thing is for sure, they are deeply rooted into the Chinese culture and Chinese values. These Chinese beliefs and Chinese symbols are being practiced in the daily lives even till now.
Chinese all over the world still hangs Chinese lucky symbols in their homes, they still practice Chinese values just like what their ancestors have been doing for hundreds of years. Do you believe? Love to hear your comments on this.
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