8 in Chinese = 八 (bā)

The number 8 in Chinese is pronounced "bah" (like the sound a sheep makes, with a high level tone), written in pinyin as "bā", and the character is 八.

Quick Answer

Pronunciation

Bā (八) uses Mandarin's first tone—the "high level tone." Your voice stays high and flat throughout the sound.

Step by step:

1. Start at a high pitch (higher than your normal speaking voice)
2. Hold that pitch steady throughout
3. Say "bah" (like a sheep's "baa" sound) while keeping your voice high and flat

Common mistakes:

• Letting your voice drop—it should stay perfectly level
• Pronouncing it too softly—the first tone should be clear and strong
• Not making it high enough—it needs to be noticeably higher than your normal speaking voice
• Adding an extra vowel sound at the end—it should be a clean "bah" not "bah-uh"

The Character 八

The Chinese character 八 consists of just two strokes that spread outward from the top, resembling an inverted "V" or the Arabic numeral 8 split open at the top. It's one of the simplest Chinese characters to write.

In traditional Chinese, you'll see the same character 八. This character is identical in simplified and traditional forms.

Cultural Significance: The Luckiest Number

Eight is considered the luckiest number in Chinese culture.

Why is 8 so lucky? The number 八 (bā) sounds similar to 發 (fā), which means "to prosper," "to get rich," or "to make a fortune." The phrase 發財 (fā cái) means "to become wealthy."

This phonetic connection makes 8 the most sought-after number in Chinese culture.

Real-world impact is massive:

Beijing Olympics:

• Opened on 08/08/08 at 8:08:08 PM—deliberately chosen for maximum luck

Phone numbers:

• People pay enormous premiums for phone numbers with 8s
• A phone number with multiple 8s can sell for tens of thousands of dollars
• 888-8888 type numbers are extremely valuable

License plates:

• Cars with 8s in the license plate are highly desirable and expensive
• Some people pay hundreds of thousands for plates with multiple 8s

Real estate:

• Apartments on the 8th floor command higher prices
• Addresses with 8 are more expensive
• Building 8, Unit 8, Floor 8 combinations are premium

Prices:

• Retailers often price items at 88, 188, 888 yuan
• Wedding gifts are given in amounts of 888 or 8888 yuan
• Lucky money (红包) often contains amounts with 8

Business:

• Companies pay premium for phone numbers ending in 8
• Grand openings scheduled on dates with 8
• Business deals often finalized on the 8th

Dates:

• August 8 (8/8) is extremely popular for weddings
• The 8th, 18th, and 28th of any month are considered auspicious

Practical Usage

Counting: When counting objects, 八 is used with measure words:

• 八个 (bā gè) = eight (general items)
• 八本书 (bā běn shū) = eight books
• 八杯茶 (bā bēi chá) = eight cups of tea

Prices:

• 8元 = 八块 (bā kuài) - in spoken Chinese
• 80元 = 八十元 (bā shí yuán)
• 800元 = 八百元 (bā bǎi yuán)
• 888元 = 八百八十八元 (bā bǎi bā shí bā yuán) - very lucky!

Times and dates:

• 8:00 = 八点 (bā diǎn)
• August = 八月 (bā yuè)
• The 8th day = 八号 (bā hào)

Note on "two eights": When you have multiple 8s, Chinese people might say 双八 (shuāng bā) meaning "double eight" or just repeat it: 八十八 (bā shí bā) = 88.

Regional Variations

The pronunciation of 八 (bā) remains consistent across Mandarin-speaking regions, but other Chinese dialects have their own pronunciations:

Cantonese: baat³ (sounds like "baht")—also sounds similar to "prosper" in Cantonese, maintaining the lucky association Hokkien/Taiwanese: pat Shanghainese: paq

The lucky association exists across all Chinese dialects because of the sound similarity to "prosperity."

Common Phrases with 8

第八 (dì bā): Eighth, number eight

八月 (bā yuè): August

八卦 (bā guà): Gossip, or the Eight Trigrams (from I Ching)

四面八方 (sì miàn bā fāng): All sides, from all directions (literally "four sides, eight directions")

七上八下 (qī shàng bā xià): Anxious, unsettled (literally "seven up, eight down")

八九不离十 (bā jiǔ bù lí shí): Pretty close, almost certain (literally "eight-nine not far from ten")

十有八九 (shí yǒu bā jiǔ): Most likely, nine times out of ten

八仙过海 (bā xiān guò hǎi): The Eight Immortals cross the sea (each person shows their special skills)

How to Use This Knowledge

If you're doing business in China or Chinese-speaking regions:

• Choose 8 for important numbers whenever possible
• Schedule important events on the 8th, 18th, or 28th
• Give gifts in amounts with 8 (88, 188, 888, 8888)
• Red envelopes (红包) with 88 or 888 yuan are especially appreciated
• If buying property, expect to pay premium for units with 8

However, don't overdo it—Chinese people understand not everything can have an 8, and they won't be offended if circumstances don't allow it.

Quick Takeaways

• 8 in Chinese is 八 (bā) with a high flat first tone
• It's pronounced like "bah" (sheep sound) with a steady high pitch
• Eight is THE luckiest number because it sounds like "prosper/get rich"
• The Beijing Olympics opened on 08/08/08 at 8:08:08 PM
• People pay huge premiums for phone numbers, license plates, and addresses with 8
• Gifts and red envelopes in amounts of 88, 888, or 8888 are highly valued
• August 8 (8/8) is extremely popular for weddings and business launches
• The character 八 uses just two simple strokes

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If you're in China and want to maximize good fortune with lucky numbers, TravelNum helps you understand how numbers are used and valued in Chinese culture.