Why is number 4 Considered Unlucky in Korea?
Have you ever wondered why many buildings in Korea don't have a 4th floor?
Or why some koreas avoid the number 4 in everyday life?
This superstition is deeply rooted in Korean culture and has an interesting background!
1. The Origin of the Number 4 Superstition
The belief that number 4 is unlucky comes from Chinas influence on Korean culture.In both chinese and korean, the word for "four"(사, sa) sounds very similar to the word for "death".
Because of this, people started associating the number 4 with bad luck, danger, or even death itself.
This is similar to how Western cultures often consider Friday the 13th as an unlucky day!
2. How This Affects Daily Life in Korea
Because of this superstition, Koreans try to avoid the number 4 in various ways:
- Buildings & Elevators-- Many buildings skip the 4th floor and label it as "F"instead of "4" on elevator bottons.
- Phone Numbers & addresses-- Some people avoid phone numbers or house number that contain the number4.
- Gifts- Giving four of something(life four apples or four flowers) is seen as bad luck
- Hospitals -- Many hospitals avoid using the number 4 in room numbers because of its association with death.
3. Do koreas Really Believe in This?
Although the ounger generation doesn't take this superstition very seriously, it it still deeply ingrained in society.
Older generations and traditional businesses still follow thises practiced to avoid bad luck and respect cultural beliefs.
So, nect time you visit Korea and notice that there is no 4th flppr in building, you'll know why!