Eight is a lucky number in China. The Mandarin word for eight, ' ba' sounds close to the word for wealth, 'fa'. In Cantonese eight, 'baat' sounds like the word for fortune, 'faat'. Thus many people believe eight is a number linked to prosperity.
Chinese love to have the number eight in phone numbers, addresses, and even car license plates. The Beijing Olympics began on 8/8/08 at 8 seconds and 8 minutes past 8 pm.
Chinese believe the number Four is very unlucky and is to be avoided. The word for it sounds close to the word for death, 'si'. Many phone manufacturers intentionally do not use a 4 series model number. Thus a phone number with numerous fours can be considered as 'death' multiplied! But in Australia it is difficult avoid at least one 4 in the prefix of mobile numbers.
In some Asian countries many buildings do not have a Fourth floor (compared with Western buildings not having a Thirteenth floor). This is repeated by avoiding the use of a 14th, 24th, etc floor. Even apartment numbers may use, for example 503A instead of 504.
The number Six is liked as it sounds like the word for flowing (everything will go smoothly). Thus Chinese will look for a set of 666 numbers. Thus a combination of 6s and 8s is sought after. Paradoxically in Western Culture this is considered demonic as it is the Number of the Beast.
There is also an equal demand by the Indian community for 8s as many follow numerology.
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