Lesson Transcript
| Hey, guys! Do you know about the superstitions in Japan? Our superstitions are very different from Western cultures. I think you'll find it very interesting. Let's have a look. |
| Numbers 4 and 9 are considered to be unlucky numbers because 4 in Japanese is sometimes pronounced し (shi) which means “death”. In Japan, hospitals and some hotels don't have a 4th floor. Often, the room number 4 and rooms 40 through 49 are not there. When you give a gift of a set of plates or cups to somebody, it is usually 3 or 5 rather than 4. So if you are giving presents in Japan, be careful not to give 4. |
| Nine is also considered to be unlucky because it sometimes is pronounced く (ku) like the kanji that means “suffering”. |
| In western parts of the world, 13 is considered unlucky. So just remember, 4+9=13, death plus suffering equals bad luck. |
| Did you enjoy that video on superstitions? Click on the link in the description or go to JapanesePod101.com to learn more Japanese. Bye! |
See Also
New Untold Story: The Hidden Magic of the Five-Yen Coin: A Tale of Serendipity in Japan10 Unique Japanese Superstitions to Know (and Why) - Coto Academy“8” is a special number for Japanese culture – Shinto Inari“The Unlucky Number 4 and 44 in Korea: Exploring the Cultural Beliefs and Superstitions”Comments
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