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520

Pinyin: wǔ èr líng

Literal: Five Two Zero

Chinese Slang Meaning

A numerical expression used to convey the message 'I love you', as the pronunciation of '520' in Chinese is similar to the pronunciation of '我爱你' (wǒ ài nǐ), which means 'I love you'

Examples

  • 520快乐!

    520 kuàilè!

    Happy 520!

  • 送你一朵玫瑰花,520

    Sòng nǐ yī duǒ méiguīhuā,520

    Sending you a rose, I love you

Origin

Originated from the phonetic similarity between the numbers and the phrase '我爱你'. In Chinese, the number 5 is pronounced 'wǔ', 2 is pronounced 'èr', and 0 is pronounced 'líng', which sounds similar to '我爱你'. It became popular as a way to express love in a creative and indirect way, especially in the digital age where people often use numbers and codes to convey messages.

Usage

Commonly used in text messages, social media posts, and online chats to express love and affection. It is also associated with the date May 20th, which is considered a special day for couples to express their love and is sometimes referred to as 'Network Valentine's Day'.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, numbers often have symbolic meanings based on their pronunciation. '520' is a prime example of how numbers can be used to convey emotions and messages in a playful and affectionate way. It has become an integral part of modern Chinese romantic culture.