NUMBER 9: AN EXAMPLE OF WORDS THAT DESCRIBE NUMBERS IN CHINESE AND VIETNAMESE

Abstract

Each language has a certain amount of vocabulary that identifies numbers. Numbers are not only used to indicate a quantity but also associated with the culture of people in a country. Besides the primary meaning, each number embraces symbolic meanings, which helps people to express feelings and exchange information more effectively. Chinese and Vietnamese are no exceptions. China and Vietnam lie in the same cultural space, so people may prefer or avoid some certain numbers. Number 9 is a typical example. In the article, various research methods and research techniques, such as statistics, analysis, and comparison are used to clarify the meanings and cultural implications of number 9 as well as the words that contain this number in Chinese and Vietnamese.