You want to please your Chinese friend, and send him a gift. But strangely you find him seen to be not so happy when he open the gift box. You want to know why, then read this arctile about Chinese taboos of giving gifts.

The following gifts and/or colors are associated with bad meaning should not be given:

1. Clocks. Never buy a clock as a present for any Chinese friend. The word “clock”, has similar sound with the “end”. Giving a clock as a gift [song zhong] sounds like being present at the bedside when a person takes his last breath.

2. Chrysanthemum. In Chinese culture, the Chrysanthemum is often used to mourning the passing of a loved one and so is hardly a fitting gift to celebrate a happy moment or memory.

3. Umbrella. Umbrella cannot be used as a gift for married couples too because 伞 (sǎn), the Chinese version of ”umbrella” sound similar to 散 (sàn), which can be translated into “separate”. When you’re just getting to know someone, and it begins to rain but they don’t have an umbrella, it’s bad luck to give them an umbrella to go home with – a sure omen that you’ll never see each other again.

4. Green hat. Green hat is a metaphor and is only associated with men. If a man wears a green hat, it simply means his wife is cheating on him. So never buy a green hat for any male married friend, as wearing a green hat has the same meaning that his wife commits adultery.

5. Do not give knives, scissors as they symbolize breaking a relationship. Likewise, its best not to give a handkerchief as a present. Given that this is something that is used to wipe away tears, a gift of this nature is perceived to actually bring them some kind of bad fortune and the cause for crying.

6. Do not wrap the gift in white as the colors, because it represents sorrow and poverty. Any other color such as blue or black should also be avoided.

7. A stork or crane.

8. Pears. The word for Pear in Chinese sounds the same as separate and is considered bad luck. Chinese believe that a pear shouldn’t be shared among families and friends because to share a pear is 分梨 (fēnlí) which sounds the same as 分离 (fēnlí) to separate. It goes against the traditional ideals of social structure in China.

9. Red ink for writing cards or letters. It symbolizes the end of a relationship.

It is important to know that gifts are a major part of the Chinese culture. Besides the above one, we have even more Chinese gift symbolism, gift advice and taboos. For example, if someone gives you a present, it’s best not to open it in front of them. When someone gives a business card to you, do not stick it in your hip pocket. Also, don’t stick it in your wallet and then put your wallet in your hip pocket. You should putting them in your wallet and them placing the wallet in a front pocket is no problem. And so on.