① What's the occasion?
② Your relationship to the recipient?
③ Are you attending in person?
④ Your region / currency?
Quick Reference — Common Wedding Amounts
| Relationship | Mainland China | Lucky Amounts |
|---|---|---|
| Coworker / Acquaintance | ¥300–¥600 | ¥366, ¥600 |
| Friend | ¥500–¥1,000 | ¥666, ¥888 |
| Close Friend | ¥800–¥1,500 | ¥888, ¥1,288 |
| Best Friend | ¥1,000–¥2,000 | ¥1,688, ¥2,000 |
| Family | ¥1,000–¥3,000+ | ¥1,888, ¥2,888 |
| Close Family / Sibling | ¥3,000–¥10,000+ | ¥3,888, ¥6,888 |
Amounts vary by city tier. Beijing/Shanghai may run 20-30% higher than these figures.
Lucky Numbers to Use (and Avoid)
| Number | Meaning | Use? |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | 顺 (shùn) — smooth sailing, everything goes well | ✅ Great |
| 8 | 发 (fā) — prosperity, getting rich | ✅ Best |
| 9 | 久 (jiǔ) — longevity, forever | ✅ Great for couples |
| 168 | 一路发 (yīlù fā) — prosperity all the way | ✅ Very popular |
| 520 | 我爱你 (wǒ ài nǐ) — I love you | ✅ Romantic |
| 4 | 死 (sǐ) — death | ❌ Never use |
| 400, 444 | Sounds like "death death death" | ❌ Strongly avoid |