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Alex

Alex


to make the post more accurate

3 hours ago, Katie Meadow said:

The Japanese seem to love the number five. The udon I like comes in five bundles to a package; the bundles are always too much for one person and not enough for two.

 

That's because one of the pronunciations of the number 4 is "shi," which also is the one for "death." It's similar to the attitude here in the States, at least in some quarters, toward the number 13. Items therefore are sold in fives rather than fours. Other examples of this are sake and tea sets, which in Japan will have five cups.

 

There also are lexical rules and customs about when to use "shi" and when to use its alternative, "yon."

Alex

Alex

58 minutes ago, Katie Meadow said:

The Japanese seem to love the number five. The udon I like comes in five bundles to a package; the bundles are always too much for one person and not enough for two.

 

That's because one of the pronunciations of the number 4 is "shi," which also is the one for "death." It's similar to the attitude here in the States, at least in some quarters, toward the number 13. Items therefore are sold in multiples of five rather than four. Other examples of this are sake and tea sets, which in Japan will have five cups.

 

There also are lexical rules and customs about when to use "shi" and when to use its alternative, "yon."

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