Slang dictionary · Number slang · Chinese internet slang
What does 520 mean?
Also written: 521, 1314, 5201314, 520 day
In short
520 is Chinese number slang for "I love you" (我爱你): 5-2-0, read wǔ èr líng, sounds close to wǒ ài nǐ. 521 is usually read as "I'm willing" or "I love you", 1314 (yī sān yī sì) sounds like 一生一世, "for a lifetime", and 5201314 together means "I love you forever". That is why May 20 and 21 have become an unofficial online Valentine's Day in China.
Where 520 comes from
Writing feelings as digits is an old habit of Chinese chat: numbers are quick to type and a little coy, so a string of them can say what people find awkward to say outright.
The use of 520 for "I love you" is often traced to the 1998 song 数字恋爱 (Digital Love) by Taiwanese singer Mavis Fan (范晓萱). It spread widely online, and May 20 gradually became a day for confessions, gifts, weddings and 520-themed sales. The holiday has no official founding date.
Common love numbers
| Number | Chinese | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 520 | 我爱你 | I love you |
| 521 | 我愿意 / 我爱你 | I'm willing / I love you; often a reply to 520 |
| 1314 | 一生一世 | for a lifetime, forever |
| 5201314 | 我爱你一生一世 | I love you forever |
| 5211314 | 我愿意一生一世 | I'm yours forever |
How people use 520
- 520，今天也爱你 (520, love you today too), as a note on a transfer
- A: 520 B: 521 (A: I love you B: I love you too)
- 在一起第三年，5201314 (three years together, I love you forever)
- 520 又到了，单身狗默默关掉了朋友圈 (520 again; the singles quietly close social media)
- 520 限定礼盒 (520 limited-edition gift box), in shop ads
On WeChat, the cap on a single personal red envelope rises from the usual 200 yuan to 520 yuan for May 20 only, so sending exactly 520 or 1314 yuan is a popular gesture between couples.
When to be careful
Because 520 and 1314 read as love messages, avoid them as amounts when paying a coworker or client back; round to another number instead.
Among close friends 520 can be a playful "love ya" with no romance intended, so read it in context.
FAQ
What is the difference between 520 and 521?
Both can mean "I love you". 521 is also read as "I'm willing" (我愿意) and is often used to answer someone's 520.
What does 1314 mean?
1314 sounds like 一生一世, "for one whole lifetime". It is usually paired with 520 as 5201314, "I love you forever".
Is May 20 an official holiday in China?
No. It is an internet-born "Valentine's Day" that many couples celebrate, not a public holiday.