八
现在是八点半。
It's half past eight now.
The cardinal number after seven and before nine.
我有八个苹果。
I have eight apples.
第八课很难。
Lesson Eight is difficult.
In Chinese, '八' is considered lucky and is often associated with prosperity and good fortune.
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Cultural Significance
In China, the number 8 is highly auspicious. It is common to see prices like ¥888 or phone numbers with multiple 8s, as it symbolizes wealth and good luck.
Gold Rule
Pronunciation
The tone of '八' is flat (ā), not rising or falling. Mispronouncing the tone can lead to confusion (e.g., 'bá' means 'to pull out').
Word Origin
From Old Chinese *bret (eight), cognate with Tibetan brgyad and Burmese hrac.
Usage Notes
In Chinese culture, '八' (bā) is phonetically similar to '发' (fā), which means 'wealth' or 'prosperity.' As a result, the number is considered very auspicious, especially in contexts like phone numbers, addresses, and business names.