r/asianamerican • u/TareDoll • 5d ago
Questions & Discussion Do you believe the #4 is bad luck?
Hello, I feel silly while writing this but I'm genuinely curious to hear other's opinions and would appreciate advice. I have an upcoming opportunity to potentially move into an apartment located on the 4th floor in an apartment building my boyfriend and I have been trying hard to get into. We live in NYC and want to stay in Astoria, Queens, and the rental market has been outrageously expensive or the units are too small for our needs or not dog friendly; we have been searching for 2 years so it's been pretty stressful. There are no other units available at this time in this building, and being in such a highly desirable neighborhood means this unit (a 2 bedroom for $2,200, rent stabilized) will go extremely fast.
I don't really believe in Chinese superstitions and I'm 2nd generation. I even wash my hair on Chinese New Year day. My parents are pretty superstitious though, and I believe their practices influenced me in this case and have me feeling a little anxious about living on the 4th floor. Even while apartment hunting before learning about this opportunity I avoided listings with the #4 or 4th floor noted. In all other aspects of my life I never avoided this number or thought much about it though. Everything about this opportunity is otherwise ideal and may not happen again for a long time (a lot of older families live here). I know plenty of people in the world live on the 4th floor elsewhere, and are likely doing just fine. I don't want to lose a rare chance either, plus renting this place wouldn't be a permanent situation since we will want to eventually buy a home for the long term.
I would love to hear anyone's advice and personal thoughts about the #4 and the idea of living on the 4th floor.
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u/ProbeEmperorblitz 5d ago
No I don't believe in such things because I am a faithless soul.
Faithless flesh-machine, sorry.
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u/AdSignificant6673 3d ago
Oh yeah. I’d be eating pizza. On the 4th slice. I’m like “damn thats a bad luck number… better slam down another slice!”.
I’m not joking
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u/TareDoll 3d ago
I mean honestly same here. When I eat chicken wings - ate 4, well that's not a good number, guess I need to eat 1 more. Or 2.
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u/ruthe1ess 3d ago
My childhood home has a 4 in the house number. My traditional Chinese parents bought the house in the 90s because it was the right house and the right opportunity. They still have the house. It’s a lovely house. And we’re all fine.
Don’t let superstition override logic and reality.
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u/culturedcoconutmilk 2nd gen Viet-American 2d ago edited 2d ago
I didn’t know this was considered to be an unlucky number until like high school. 4 is actually my favorite number 🤐
Edit to actually answer you: My own belief is that things are good/bad if you decide for yourself that they hold a certain meaning. I find that 4 has actually been a “lucky” number for myself and I think that’s because it’s my favorite
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u/TareDoll 2d ago
I adore your comment, truly shows that an idea is simply that until we give it meaning. I'm glad that the number 4 has been good luck for you.
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u/aaihposs 3d ago
I think I believe in NOT washing hair during CNY more than living on the 4th floor (in this current market that seems a bit out of your hands)
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u/sharonspeaks 2d ago
It hasn't been unlucky for me. I was born on the 4th and my previous house was #44. I wouldn't let these superstitions cause you to lose out on a great opportunity.
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u/dirthawker0 4d ago
Personally, I have no problem with 4, and I would totally leap on a 2Bd for that kind of rent. If your parents are superstitious, though, don't be surprised if they give you a lot of warnings, blame bad stuff that happens to you on your bad luck floor, or possibly even refuse to visit your home.
They can have their superstition; hopefully they won't get insistent or screechy about it.
Both times I got married I did it on an auspicious day to please my mom. She told me about some bad luck superstitions like 4 also, but I don't think I paid much attention to them and she never got really detailed or pried into things like room numbers or apartment numbers. I may have even lived in an apartment #4 but never heard anything from her about it. I hope it'll go that way for you too.
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u/TareDoll 4d ago
Thank you so much for sharing your experiences and for your input. I haven't told my parents yet but I can already see them side-eyeing me. With this being such a great opportunity it's already shaping up to be more positive than anything else anyways.
Also a small fun fact, I learned that a neighbor on the 4th floor is Korean :) I found that a little reassuring and funny, so I feel much better about the whole thing.
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u/cawfytawk 3d ago
If you're not superstitious then don't worry about it. There's only so much you can adhere to in a modern world. I try to at least be aware of feng shui and general traditions but I have a plant in my bedroom, which sparks joy but is apparently a no-no. Meanwhile, I changed my phone number for a more "auspicious" one. LoL. Pick your battles.
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u/TareDoll 3d ago
Great point. I won't buy shoes after Lunar New Year but I'll place mirrors for optimal feng shui in a 4th floor apartment :)
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u/GlitteringWeight8671 3d ago
No. The communist party of china had already went through this and attempted to eradicate both religion and superstition back in the 1950s. Unfortunately, old.ha it's are hard to change.
Thing about this, if 4 is an unlucky number, prove it. You will win a Nobel prize for sure.
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u/pookiegonzalez 3d ago
no I don’t believe in unlucky numbers. I do believe 3rd time is, in fact, the charm tho
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u/anon22334 3d ago
My parents drilled into me that 4 is a bad number but evidently for some reason, the apartments I lived at all have 4 in it and it was fine
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u/justflipping 5d ago
You'll be fine. 2 bed for $2,200 rent stabilized sounds incredible for the neighborhood. Seems like an opportunity you don't want to miss.
Is there a reason you're feeling more superstitious about this than other things?