The number of marriages skyrocketed across China on January 4 due to the similar pronunciation of the date (2013-1-4) to “love you for life” in Chinese.

A Beijing Municipal Bureau of Civil Affairs employee said 12,000 couples tied the knot in the capital as of 7:30 pm on January 4, 4300 more than Decmember 12, 2012 — the so-called “love day,” according to a Beijing News report.

Netizens, however, sounded off saying a date does nothing to ensure a happy marriage and couples should instead concentrate on finding better ways to get along.

@四喜百岁ma_爱上暖男: You know, when some people pronounce “1314” it sounds like “one injured and one dead.” It’s not necessary to rush and get married on that day.

@无病无忧活神仙: A successful marriage is based on morals, responsibility, persistence and love. A date that sounds like “love you for life” is not a solid foundation for a relationship.

@海龟氧气机: It just implies good wishes and a new beginning.

@小妖的缤纷城堡notcry: A lasting marriage is not determined by a series of numbers or some festival. Anyway, getting married on that day is just an expression of the couples’ wishes to “love each other for life.”