What is Chinese Digitalk?

Chinese Digitalk is the phenomenon of using the sounds of numbers (and sometimes alphabet letters) to represent entire words. In the Chinese language, a single digit can sound like dozens of different words. Let's take a look at how Chinese digitalk works and then run through a few examples. Soon you'll be digitalking with your Chinese friends by SMS and instant messaging.

Each number in Chinese, when it's spoken, sounds like dozens of other words. It's very much like a pun in the English language. Sometimes when the pun is really bad, you have to look more carefully at the context of the entire sentence. It's the same with Chinese digitalk.

Sometimes the meanings are clear, and sometimes it takes a lot of imagination to guess the meaning. So be careful when you're talking with your Chinese friends. They might not get your meaning right off the bat.

Or even worse, they might get an entirely different meaning. Because each digit stands for so many different words, it's easy to give an unintended double meaning.

Case in point: An American fast-food chain in China advertised their phone number featuring 517-517 prominently in the number. It was intended to be a clever use of digitalk. The announcer says “Wo yao chi! Wo yao chi!” as the numbers flash on the screen. That means “I want to eat. I want to eat.”

And it sounds a little bit like 517 in Chinese.

Unfortunately for this fast-food franchise, the number 517 in Chinese digitalk sounds a whole lot MORE like “I'm going to be angry!”

Especially when the number is seen without the announcer's voice, most people would hear the unintended meaning. The actual numbers sound closer to “I'm going to be angry” than “I want to eat”.

I wonder if their complaint rate went up after the new phone number launched?

Common examples of Chinese digitalk

Here are some more common examples that you will run into as your talk with your Chinese friends.

88

This sounds like “baa-baa” in Chinese, and it means “bye-bye”. This is interesting because the numbers are used to represent an English expression. This might why your Chinese friends may use the expression 88 with you...they see it as common English! Here's another example of a common English expression in Chinese digitalk.

3Q

The sound 3Q makes in Chinese is “Sun-Q”, which is a pun on the English expression “Thank you”. So when someone types 3Q to you in chat - it means “thanks”. This is very commonly understood.

Try saying “3Q” next time you want to thank a Chinese friend via SMS or chat.

520

This is my favorite example of digitalk. If a Chinese friend says 520 to you, you're probably more than just friends. 520 in Chinese sounds like “Woo-Are-Ning” which is a pun on “Whoa-Eye-Knee”, the Chinese words for “I love you”.

The next time you're chatting with your Chinese girlfriend, try saying 520. She might answer you with “520-2” - can you guess what that means?

94

This sounds like “Joe Sh-uh”, which is a Chinese expression indicating clear agreement. It's kind of like “For sure!” or “You bet!” or “That's exactly right!”

94 is often used twice in a row for extra emphasis. If you want to really show agreement, then “9494” is the way to do it in Chinese digitalk.

“94” is a great way to empathize with your Chinese friends. Use this expression to express understanding. It's like saying “I see what you mean. I understand. I know how you feel.”

52

Based on what you've read above - can you guess the meaning of this store's name?

Sure, it's a pet shop. It's my favorite pet shop in all of China. But no, unlike Baskin-Robbins, there are not 52 different types of pets for sale.

As you probably guessed, the 52 is digitalk for “I love”. So the store name is “I love pets”!

More Love Phrases in Chinese Digitalk

You might have seen this wonderful site that has a long list of Chinese digitalk phrases. Here are some examples:

• 53719 I still have deep love for you.
• 0594184 You and me together for a lifetime.
• 1314921 Always love you for a lifetime.
• 20863 Love you until the next life.
• 360 Longing to see you again.
• 246437 Love is so magical.
• 770 Kiss you.

Click here for the full list.

Be warned though - almost all of those examples are more obscure. Most Chinese people do not understand the meaning just by seeing the numbers alone. I tested them on my Chinese girlfriend and she didn't understand any of them. I asked around and most Chinese people won't understand the meaning of these.

In fact, when I sent her the digitalk for “kiss you” she got upset! Why? Because even though it's a simple digitalk with only 3 numbers, it sounds more like “angry angry you” than “kiss you”.

So what's the point if she won't understand?

Well, you could try what I did. I sent her the Chinese digitalk, waited a few minutes to let her guess the meaning, then sent her the digitalk again along with the Chinese characters (you can find the Chinese characters here). Then she gets your intended meaning, and has some fun trying to guess it too.

Want more examples of fun with Chinese numbers?

Do you know which numbers are Lucky in Chinese?

Want more? Get your own numbers read by an expert in Chinese numerology.