South Africa guides
Every fafi number from 1 to 36, the dreams behind them, and how the game works
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Fafi — uMchina, or the “Chinese numbers” — has been played in South African townships for the better part of a century. The idea is simple: your dreams point to a number between 1 and 36, and that number is your bet. Every number has a symbol, and every symbol has a family of dreams that go with it.
Use the search below to turn last night's dream into a number, or browse the full chart. The meanings are the ones most commonly used across the country; your local runner's list may differ here and there.
Type the main thing you dreamt about — a person, animal, object or event.
All 36 numbers. Search to narrow the chart down.
King
white man · left eye · bones · boss
Monkey
ape · right eye · witchcraft · fighting
Sea water
sailor · accident · bad luck · drowning
Dead man
turkey · small change · coins · coffin
Tiger
strong man · soldier · fight · tyre
Ox
blood · gentleman · milk · bull
Lion
thief · big stick · big man · hunter
Pig
drunk man · fat man · bacon · beer
Moon
baby · devil · pumpkin · night
Eggs
train · grave · boots · wedding ring
Carriage
car · wagon · wheels · bicycle
Dead woman
ducks · running · marriage · birds
Big fish
ghost · spirits · big money · swimming
Old woman
detective · cat · black cat · nun
Bad woman
prostitute · aeroplane · loose woman · wine
Pigeons
dove · small house · small bird · letter
Diamond lady
queen · jewellery · pretty woman · diamonds
Small change
servant girl · paper money · silver · shoes
Little girl
smoke · tomato · baby girl · flowers
Cat
sky · handkerchief · milk · cattle
Elephant
old man · hunting · big house · wise man
Ship
big water · rain · long stick · boat
Horse
doctor · hair · big stick · racing
Mouth
pearl · teeth · big house · talking
Big house
wife · church · building · hospital
Bees
general · sea · sugar · honey
Dog
policeman · priest · jail · soldier
Herrings
sardines · gunshot · fish · paper
Small water
rain · tears · coffin · crying
Fowl
chicken · graveyard · sweetheart · feathers
Fire
woman · spirit · wedding · burning
Gold money
gold · rich man · dirty woman · treasure
Little boy
spider · small stick · baby boy · insects
Meat
feathers · cigarettes · shoes · butcher
Clothes
dirty woman · washing · big stick · wardrobe
Shrimp
stick · walking stick · bicycle · crab
🌙 Dream, then decode
Players note the strongest image from a dream and look up its number — that is what this guide is for.
🔢 Pick a number from 1 to 36
Bets are placed on a single number with a runner. Some players also bet on a number's 'family' of related symbols.
🎲 The draw
The banker draws one number per session, traditionally announced by showing a card or calling the symbol.
💰 Payout
A winning number pays a fixed multiple of the stake — typically 28 to 1 — while the other 35 numbers lose.
Fafi (also called uMchina or 'Chinese numbers') is an informal numbers game that has been played in South African townships for generations. Players pick a number from 1 to 36, usually guided by a dream, and a runner collects the bets before a draw.
Think about the main thing you saw in your dream — a person, animal, object or event — then search for it above. Each number has a headline symbol and a few related meanings. If several numbers match, most players go with the one whose symbol fits the dream best.
The chart is passed on by word of mouth and differs slightly between regions and runners. The symbols listed here are the ones most commonly cited across Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape.
Fafi games run by street runners are not licensed, which means there is no regulator, no guarantee of payment and no protection if something goes wrong. This guide is a cultural reference for the dream meanings only — it is not a betting service.
Mocash pays real rands for completing surveys and offers — no stake, no runner and no luck required. Winnings can be withdrawn as airtime, vouchers or straight to your bank.
1 King · 2 Monkey · 3 Sea water · 4 Dead man · 5 Tiger · 6 Ox · 7 Lion · 8 Pig · 9 Moon · 10 Eggs · 11 Carriage · 12 Dead woman · 13 Big fish · 14 Old woman · 15 Bad woman · 16 Pigeons · 17 Diamond lady · 18 Small change · 19 Little girl · 20 Cat · 21 Elephant · 22 Ship · 23 Horse · 24 Mouth · 25 Big house · 26 Bees · 27 Dog · 28 Herrings · 29 Small water · 30 Fowl · 31 Fire · 32 Gold money · 33 Little boy · 34 Meat · 35 Clothes · 36 Shrimp
Rather earn without the guesswork? Complete surveys and offers on Mocash and get paid in real rands.
This page is a cultural reference for fafi dream meanings. Mocash does not run, take or pay out fafi bets and is not affiliated with any runner or banker.
18+ only. Gambling is addictive and can be harmful. Never bet more than you can afford to lose. If gambling is affecting you or someone you know, contact the South African Responsible Gambling Foundation toll-free on 0800 006 008.
