八
bā
Eight
八 (bā) is the Chinese character for the number eight. It is a fundamental numeral used in counting, dates, times, and many other contexts.
What does 八 (bā) mean?
八 (bā) means “eight” in English.
When to use it
Neutral and universally applicable for counting and numerical representation. It is often considered a lucky number in Chinese culture due to its pronunciation.
How to pronounce it
Sounds like “bah,” similar to the “ba” in “banana,” with a high, flat tone.
Other ways to say it
- 第八dì bāthe eighth
- 八月bā yuèAugust
- 八卦bā guàgossip (or Eight Trigrams)
Examples
我有八本书。
wǒ yǒu bā běn shū.
I have eight books.
他今年八岁了。
tā jīnnián bā suì le.
He is eight years old this year.
今天是八月八号。
jīntiān shì bā yuè bā hào.
Today is August 8th.
Pro tip: The number eight is considered very lucky in Chinese culture because its pronunciation (bā) sounds similar to 发 (fā), which means “to get rich” or “to prosper.”
Related phrases
六 · Six七 · Seven九 · Nine
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