In Chinese internet slang, 520 (wǔ èr líng) means "I love you" (wǒ ài nǐ), because the numbers sound similar to the phrase in Mandarin. It's a popular way to express affection online, leading to May 20th (5/20) becoming an unofficial Valentine's Day in China, especially for confessing love.
The number combination 520 (wǔ èr líng) is a Chinese internet slang for expressing love, similar to “ILY” in English, because it sounds like 我爱你 (wǒ ài nǐ), meaning “I love you”.
In slang 530 in Chinese means I miss you, because the numbers 5, 3 and 0 sound like the words for I, Miss and You respectively.
520 originally started as a slang word used by the Chinese online as a shortcut to say I love you in Chinese, like ILY in English. It then came to be associated with the date May 20th (5.20), which therefore became a very romantic day!
What is May 20 known as 520? It's a day when people in China celebrate their own Valentine's Day (next to other Valentine's Day called Qixi Festival). Why on May 20? Because number 520 sounds close to the Chinese I love you 'Wo Ai Ni'. Watch this Xiao Zhan video and check it for yourself.
520, in Chinese internet slang, is often used to mean “I love you” because the numbers phonetically sound like “我爱你” (wǒ ài nǐ) in Mandarin. It is commonly celebrated on May 20th (5/20) as an unofficial Valentine's Day in China.
The numbers 6 and 8 are widely considered to be lucky, while 4 is considered unlucky. These traditions are not unique to Chinese culture, with other countries with a history of Han characters also having similar beliefs stemming from these concepts.
520 (wǔ èr líng)
It is often used as a shorthand or code for saying “I love you” in text messages, social media posts, or even in spoken language.
Qixi, based on an ancient love legend of the cowherd and the weaver girl, is steeped in history and typically observed with traditional rituals and romantic dinners. In contrast, 520 is rooted in modern technology, driven by social media, and celebrated with emojis, online gifts, and mobile-first campaigns.
Well, 520 is homophonic to “I love you” in Chinese! In fact, the 20th of May (520) is pronounced （wǔ èr líng）which sound very similar to 我爱你（wǒ ài nǐ）I love you, that is why the 20th (and 21st) have been labeled as the Internet Valentine's Day（网络情人节）. Ok, we get the part about Valentine's Day, but why “internet”?
What does 666 mean in Chinese slang? 666 (liù liù liù) expresses admiration or praise, similar to saying “awesome” or “well done” in English.
The number 5201314, which has become popular online, stands for "I love you for a lifetime. Short forms in texts have become popular with the rise of social media and WhatsApp, as young people use them to express their emotions. The number 5201314 has recently become a trend on social media.
666 – Indicates something “cool” or “nice,” derived from gaming slang where it signifies impressive skill (pinyin: liùliùliù). 777 – A variation of 666, meaning “even better.” 7451/7456 – Expresses anger, translating to 气死我了 (pinyin: qìsǐwǒle), meaning “I'm furious.”
So “521” can be used to represent “我爱你 wǒ ài nǐ” and “520” can be used to represent “我爱您 wǒ ài nín “. They both mean'I love you'. This is a subtle way for the Chinese to express their love and make vows, isn't it smart and romantic?
The number 521 means 'ambitious' and 'successful' in numerology. It also resonates with 'balance' and 'durability'.
7 - Mandarin Chinese: in mainland China they use the numbers 23333 to write laughter. In the Mandarin alphabet, the transcription of “haha” is 哈哈. It's written “haha” when it's transcribed into the Latin alphabet due to the influence of PR.
Qixi Today: A Modern Take
Over time, Qixi has become more like a Chinese Valentine's Day. Couples exchange gifts, go on dates, and of course — flowers have become the go-to gesture of love. But what makes Qixi unique is its emphasis on the beauty of longing, loyalty, and cherishing connections.
To say 1-10 in Mandarin Chinese, you say: yī (一), èr (二), sān (三), sì (四), wǔ (五), liù (六), qī (七), bā (八), jiǔ (九), and shí (十), using specific tones for each word.
The term "520" derives from how numbers are pronounced in Mandarin Chinese. When spoken aloud, "five-two-zero" (五二零) sounds very similar to "I love you" (我爱你). Because of this phonetic resemblance, 520 has become an alternative way of expressing love, particularly in digital communication.
444 - 死死死 (Sǐ Sǐ Sǐ):
The pronunciation of 444 (sì) in Chinese is very similar to the word "死" (sǐ), which means death. Consequently, this number combination is considered to have inauspicious connotations. In Chinese culture, people typically avoid using this number, especially in contexts related to life and death.
I love you - wǒ 我 ài 爱 nǐ 你
This is the most typical expression to express a serious romantic love for someone. It is not something you would say to someone who is merely your crush.
233(333333)
Internet slang that essentially means “LOL.” Its origin is in the pop culture website and forum Maopu. When using Maopu, one can insert various emoticons, and if you scroll down the list, the 233rd emoticon looks like this: a figure laughing and hitting the floor with its fists.
888 is a combination of digits that brings the most fortune in the Chinese numerology. 888 is considered a symbol of wealth and prosperity during 1000 years!
Certain numbers in numerology are believed to attract wealth and success. Numbers like 8, 6, 9, 3, and 5 carry vibrations that align with ambition, balance, creativity, and risk-taking which can enhance financial prosperity.
37 三十七 (sān shí qī) “sān” like “san,” “shí” like “shrr,” and “qī” like “chee.”