88888888

What Does 88888888 Mean in a Text?

Definition of 88888888

The number sequence 88888888 has a few meanings in Asian text messaging and online chat, all of which are catching on in the US and other Western cultures:

🇨🇳 In Chinese Chat: Laughing (😂😂😂) or Good Luck and Wealth (💰💰💰)
🇯🇵 In Japanese Chat: Applause / Clapping (👏👏👏)

Note: Any unbroken string of 8s means the same. There doesn't have to be exactly eight of them.

Laughter

88888888 is commonly used in Chinese messaging and social media to represent laughter, similar to "hahaha" or "LOL."

This works because the number 8 is pronounced "bā" in Mandarin, so repeating it creates a sound that resembles rapid laughing. You'll often see it in gaming chats, livestreams, social media comments, and messaging apps.

Good Luck!

Outside of humorous contexts, the number 8 is the luckiest number possible in Chinese culture. A long string of 8s can symbolize good luck, prosperity, and success. It is used as a way of wishing someone immense fortune and prosperity.

This works because the number 8 ("bā") sounds very similar to the word for "to prosper" or "make wealth" ("fā").

***Check out our directory of abbreviations used in Chinese messaging and social media.***

Applause

image for 88888888, showing the Japanese flag with symbols representing laughter

On Japanese gaming, anime, or streaming platforms (like Twitch, YouTube, or Nico Nico Douga), repeating the number 8 means clapping hands or applause. This is because the number 8 in Japanese is pronounced "hachi." When repeated, it sounds like "pachi-pachi-pachi," which is the Japanese onomatopoeia (sound effect) for hands clapping.

If someone does something impressive in a stream or game, viewers will flood the chat with 88888888 instead of typing out emojis.