Numeric domain names are very popular in China. One of the primary reasons for their popularity is that they have no intrinsic meaning, and therefore meaning can be added to them. Once a meaning is attached to a numeric domain name, it becomes easy for consumers to remember, and that's why many Chinese companies use this approach.
Here are some examples:
So, how does a numeric domain name get its Chinese meaning? The key is rhyming. Usually, each digit in a number rhymes with multiple Chinese characters. By combining the right characters, you can come up with a meaningful Chinese phrase. Here, I'd like to share with you how I do it, using 20.com as an example.
A major obstacle with this method is that it requires understanding of the Chinese language. However, with the rapid advancements in artificial intelligence, I'm quite optimistic that this language barrier will be gone in the future. Meanwhile, it may be easier just working with a native Chinese speaker if you don't know the language.
Here are some examples:
- 23.cn
- Chinese name:
爱商which means "love business" - 23.cn is a marketplace for buying and selling businesses
- Chinese name:
- 43.cn
- Chinese name:
时尚which means "fashion" - 43.cn provides celebrity gossip and entertainment news
- Chinese name:
- 55.cn
- Chinese name:
窝窝which means "group" - 55.cn is a Nasdaq-listed group buying service
- Chinese name:
- 91.cn
- Chinese name:
就医which means "seek medical advice" - 91.cn offers medical advice on a variety of health problems
- Their website is located at www.91.cn
- Chinese name:
So, how does a numeric domain name get its Chinese meaning? The key is rhyming. Usually, each digit in a number rhymes with multiple Chinese characters. By combining the right characters, you can come up with a meaningful Chinese phrase. Here, I'd like to share with you how I do it, using 20.com as an example.
1. Split the number 20 into individual digits: 2 and 0.
2. For each individual digit, assemble a list of Chinese characters that rhyme with it.
3. Examine all possible combinations generated from the two lists:
4. Pick combinations that make sense in the Chinese language, and then use Baidu to see if they are already used by companies, which could be potential buyers for the domain name. Here is what I've found, with examples of companies using the exact match of the Chinese phrases.
This type of exercise does require a lot of thinking and Baidu research, but hard work sometimes pays off when potential buyers are uncovered. You may have noticed that the longer a number is, the more character combinations there will be, and so it will require more time to examine all of them.2. For each individual digit, assemble a list of Chinese characters that rhyme with it.
- 2:
二(Two),儿(Child),按(Press),爱(Love),饿(Hungry),鹅(Goose),安(Safe) - 0:
你(You),赢(Win),能(Can),零(Zero),宁(Tranquility),定(Stable)
二你 (Two+You), 二赢 (Two+Win), 二能 (Two+Can), etc.
- 20:
爱你(Love you) → Aiaini.com.cn (health) - 20:
爱赢(Love to win) → www.Aiwin666.com (betting) - 20:
爱宁(Love tranquility) → Njankj.cn (electrical equipment)
A major obstacle with this method is that it requires understanding of the Chinese language. However, with the rapid advancements in artificial intelligence, I'm quite optimistic that this language barrier will be gone in the future. Meanwhile, it may be easier just working with a native Chinese speaker if you don't know the language.
