The four suits—Hearts (♥), Diamonds (♦), Clubs (♣), Spades (♠)—descend from European designs. Modern playing cards don’t have an official universal symbolism, but common associations are: Hearts = matters of people/affection; Diamonds = value/wealth; Clubs = growth/work; Spades = challenge/strategy. Historically, French suits (coeurs, carreaux, trèfles, piques) became the global standard because they were faster to print.