The term "三八" (sānbā) is formed by combining the numbers "三" (three) and "八" (eight), and its modern meaning as a derogatory slang term for a foolish, vulgar, or unreasonable woman originates from a confluence of historical and cultural factors. Most directly, it references "International Women's Day" on March 8th (三八妇女节), but its pejorative twist is widely attributed to influences from Taiwanese Minnan (Hokkien) language, where the phrase "三八" is a loanword from the insult "sam-pat-á," historically used by locals to criticize what they perceived as the intrusive and ill-mannered behavior of Chinese merchants permitted to trade in Taiwanese ports only on the 3rd, 8th, 13th, 18th, 23rd, and 28th days of the lunar calendar. Over time, this specific association faded, leaving "三八" as a general insult targeting a stereotypical set of negative feminine traits.