Today might just be another day for you, May 20, but today is a special day in China!
The Chinese celebrate their love on this day, May 20, just like Valentine's day.
Couples in China will go out on a special date, especially on this day and for those who are single, it THE day to "confess" their love to their crush.
Wait, but why May 20? Why 520?
Well, when you write May 20, it's written as 5.20. When pronounced in Mandarin, it's 五二零 wǔ èr líng, which sound similar to 我爱你 wǒ ài nǐ.
A bit.
But it's enough for the Chinese!
Chinese LOVE to play with homophonic words and numbers, code them with hidden meaning. It's TRUE! Later in this post, we will list some of the 'code' used by the Chinese.
How this originate?
We don't know! We tried to search for it, but it's just internet slang used by the millennials or the internet savvy. It's pretty much like how you use ily to represent I Love You etc.
So, then May 20 came about, this day "became" the day of LOVE!
In China, registry offices often see large queues of couples wanting to get married on May 20. So yes, it's a huge day in China.
Followed by 520, the number 521 is often used to mean "I am willing" or short for "I do".
Why you may ask, again, the homophonic words.
521 is 五二一wǔ èr yī in mandarin which sounds a bit like 我愿意wǒ yuàn yì.
According to the China Internet Watch, May 20 is a day man expresses their feelings to their crush, while May 21 is the day women return their answer.
As promised early, here are just some example of how the Chinese love homophonic words and numbers.
- 1314 一生一世 (yī shēng yī shì) - For a lifetime
- 2013 二零一三 (èr líng yī sān) - I'll love you forever
- 886 爸爸六 (bā bā liù) - Good bye
- 250 二百五 (èr bǎi wǔ) - Idiot
So go and wish your other half a happy 520, remember it's 520 and not 250!!
