13th floor & 14th floor

[Ian_Lee]

In US, many buildings don't have 13th floor. In Hong Kong, most buildings don't have 14th floor.

Is there any other places that have the same kind of taboo?

[Quest]

you've said it all

[skylee]

Not just 14th floor. One of my friends live in a really tall apartment building (about 60 stories) and it has no 4th, 14th, 24th, 34th, 44th, 54th floors.

[tara]

Yup, you get that in Malaysia too....but not all the buildings....it depends on whether the owner is superstitious.

Instead of 4th & 14th floor.....its 3A & 13A....

[smithsgj]

In HK is it because 14 has a 4 in it? Or because the 14th floor is the 13th if the 1st is G? (if you see what I mean)

[skylee]

Because it has a 4 in it. It is really silly IMO.

[Quest]

掩耳盜鈴

[Ian_Lee]

14 is avoided in HK because the pronounciation is synonmous with the Cantonese phrase "definitely dead".

In HK, some buildings go with the British system "G, 1, 2, 3, 4,...." as Smithsgj knows. But when translated into Chinese address, 1st floor in English becomes 2nd floor in Chinese and 2nd then becomes 3rd.....

Very confusing (I am impressed by how the mail carriers can handle them).

But some buildings also use the American system like "1,2,3,4,....." while others use "G,2,3,4,......."

By the way, even our atheist Communist cadres from the north also believe deeply in these lucky and unlucky number stuffs.

When Bank of China Group stock shares were listed in the HK Exchange, what index number was it represented?

2388

[Ian_Lee]

Regarding 掩耳盜鈴, Japanese language is more xenophobic than the Chinese language.

Most usually they pronounce 4 as "Yon" instead of "Shi" whenever/wherever is applicable.

[skylee]

In HK' date=' some buildings go with the British system "G, 1, 2, 3, 4,...." as Smithsgj knows. But when translated into Chinese address, 1st floor in English becomes 2nd floor in Chinese and 2nd then becomes 3rd.....

Very confusing (I am impressed by how the mail carriers can handle them).[/quote']

1st Floor = 1樓 (note here it is an arabic numeral) = 二樓 (both are Chinese characters)

When Bank of China Group stock shares were listed in the HK Exchange' date=' what index number was it represented?

[b']2388[/b]

Companies have to donate huge amounts to the Community Chest of HK to get these lucky numbers.

[Guest Wuliao]

I would have thought that 13 was a Christian thing. And 666.

[Guest Jasmine]

i just know that in US....the buildings are that high that ...your eyes roll alll the way up....and u feel dizzy when u stop looking.

[smithsgj]

I can see Taipei 101 from my balcony. And, guess what, my eyes sure are rolling!

[Ian_Lee]

Here is the chart of the 101 tallest buildings in the world:

http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0001338.html

In the movie Tomb Raider II, Lara Crofter parachuted from the world's 6th tallest building -- Inrernational Financial Center -- of Hong Kong into the Victoria Harbor.

[Quest]

most of the top 15 are in China or Taiwan, kinda funny.

[skylee]

Looks like the Chinese really love to 與天比高.

According to this website, Hong Kong ranks first in the world in number/area of high rise buildings. I think this is more out of needs than vanity.

Also read this.

[ala]

Regarding 掩耳盜鈴, Japanese language is more xenophobic than the Chinese language.Most usually they pronounce 4 as "Yon" instead of "Shi" whenever/wherever is applicable.

also, nana for shichi (7). the only commonly used shi (4) in Japanese is for April: shigatsu.

but I don't understand Mandarin, the tone in 4 and death are not the same. Are they the same in Cantonese? In Shanghainese, 4 is like Mandarin si and death is same as Japanese shi; completely different (consonant and vowel), no one relates the two together.

[Quest]

the tones are different in Cantonese, but the pronunciations are the same.