Here are some examples of how this avoidance plays out:
* Building floors: You'll rarely see a 4th floor in Japanese buildings. They may jump straight from the 3rd to the 5th floor.
* Hospital rooms: Hospitals often avoid using room numbers with the digit 4.
* Phone numbers and license plates: Some people deliberately choose numbers that don't include 4.
* Gifts: Giving 4 of something is generally considered unlucky.
It's important to note:
* Not everyone in Japan is superstitious about the number 4. While the avoidance is common, there are many who don't share the belief.
* The severity of the superstition varies. Some people are extremely careful about avoiding the number 4, while others are more relaxed about it.
* The avoidance is primarily cultural. It's not a religious belief, and it's not based on any scientific evidence.
So, while the number 4 is not inherently bad or unlucky, the cultural association with death makes it a number many Japanese people try to avoid.