You Chinese If You Scared Number 4

You Chinese if you scared number 4.

Yes, you are definitely Chinese if you're scared of the number four. Wait, wait, let me be more specific... you're from Hong Kong if you're scared of the number four. Why? Because four in Chinese sounds exactly like the word, "dead."

So basically, Chinese people who don't want to live in house #4, or live on the fourth floor, apparently don't mind standing at the very edge of the sidewalk whilst waiting to cross the street as cars speed past. They also don't want to put on their seatbelts when they sit at the back of a car... and yet they're scared that they'll die if they associate themselves with 4?!

Not only do they avoid 4 like they avoid speaking English, but they also avoid any other number that contains 4 in it! People from Hong Kong won't buy house number 14 any more than they'll buy house number 4. Why is that? Stick with the original superstition!

That's another funny thing... this superstition is like an evolving virus or something. Originally it was just "4" to be avoided... but now it has become anything with 4 in it... no matter how long the number is. 88884? No way! Chinese 4-avoiders are also infecting other people... now everyone's avoiding buying a house with 4 in it, because they're afraid of the effect on resale value.

Here's a neat way to check if you're Chinese:

Tell your mother something like, "I'm going to DIE if I don't... (insert whatever you want here: pass my exam, get some sleep, etc.)" and see if she slaps you or yells at you. If she does, congratulations, YOU CHINESE, my friend.