忌(い)み数(かず)

いみかず

noun

unlucky number

number culture

1. unlucky number

A number avoided because it is thought to bring bad luck, in Japan chiefly 4 and 9.

4は忌(い)み数(かず)だ。

Four is an unlucky number.

忌(い)み数(かず)を避(さ)ける。

People avoid unlucky numbers.

病院(びょういん)やホテルでは、忌(い)み数(かず)の4や9を部屋(へや)番号(ばんごう)に使(つか)わないことがある。

Hospitals and hotels sometimes leave the unlucky numbers 4 and 9 out of their room numbers.

4 can be read し like 死(し) (death), and 9 can be read く like 苦(く) (suffering). Hence gifts are not given in sets of four, and some buildings skip room 4 or 9.

Common collocations

忌(い)み数(かず)を避(さ)ける: to avoid unlucky numbers

Related words

迷信(めいしん): superstition
縁起(えんぎ)が悪(わる)い: unlucky, a bad omen
忌(い)み言葉(ことば): taboo words (avoided at weddings and funerals)

Related Words

Related: 迷信(めいしん) (superstition)

general

Added 2026.9.30 22:58 · Revised 2026.9.30 23:00

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