Gifts you must avoid giving in Chinese culture, from clocks and shoes to pears — and why
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Many objects are considered auspicious in Chinese culture. Red items, for example, are thought to be lucky because of the color's associations with good fortune and prosperity — red clothing is commonly worn during Lunar New Year as it symbolizes new beginnings.
But there are also items that are considered unlucky, especially when given as a present. Giving the wrong present can risk ill will for years to come.
Below are five things you should never give as a gift according to Chinese superstitions and customs.
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1. Timepieces
While watches are commonly given as gifts in the West, in Chinese culture it is considered a faux pas to give someone an object that tells time.
This is because in Cantonese and Mandarin, song zhong – meaning “to gift a clock” — sounds like “to gift the end,” which refers to the ritual of sending someone off at the end of their life.
Accordingly, giving a timepiece — whether a wristwatch, a pocket watch, a vintage grandfather clock or a modern alarm clock — means you wish death upon the recipient.
If you receive a timepiece as a present, you can avoid misfortune by giving a nominal amount of money to the giver to indicate you are not receiving a gift but rather paying for the object.
2. Pears
Fruit is beloved in Chinese culture. When in doubt, a basket of fresh, seasonal fruit is always appreciated as a gift, especially for special occasions like Lunar New Year and birthdays.
But not all fruits are considered equal.
One fruit to avoid giving is pears, as their name sounds similar to the term for “leaving” or “to part from” in Cantonese and Mandarin.
To give someone pears means either you hope their family breaks apart or you hope to maintain distance from them.
On the other hand, there are plenty of fruits that are safe to gift.
Mandarins are especially popular and are commonly found in fruit baskets. They represent prosperity because the word for mandarin sounds like “gold” in Cantonese, and their shape and color are also reminiscent of gold coins.
Pomegranates are also often gifted in traditional Chinese betrothal ceremonies as their many seeds represent the hope for many children in the future.
3. Umbrellas
Like pears, gifting umbrellas is frowned upon because their name — san in Mandarin — sounds like “scatter” or “separate,” so giving one means you wish to be separated from the receiver.
In the same vein, fans — shan in Mandarin — should also not be gifted, as the word sounds similar to san.
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4. Shoes
Shoes are another item to avoid giving as a gift because of the word’s ominous associations.
The word for shoes in Mandarin is xie, which sounds like the word for evil — so giving shoes means you hope misfortune befalls the receiver.
Shoes are also frowned upon in Cantonese culture, as the Cantonese pronunciation, haai, sounds like the word for rough — so giving someone shoes is essentially wishing rough times upon them.
And since shoes are used for walking, giving someone a pair of shoes also implies you want the receiver to walk away from you.
It is especially bad luck for romantic partners to gift each other shoes, so avoid doing so unless you secretly want to break up.
5. Sets of four
Numbers are taken very seriously in Chinese culture. You may have heard, for example, that the number eight is very lucky because it sounds similar to the word for fortune in Mandarin and Cantonese.
When giving red packets containing money during holidays or special occasions, some choose to gift an amount containing the number eight.
The number four, on the other hand, is considered the unluckiest number, because it sounds similar to the word for death.
As such, do not give red packets containing an amount with the number four, such as HK$40 — doing so would mean you wish ill upon the receiver.
It is also best to refrain from giving gifts in sets of four, such as cups and plates or chocolates.
If you want to give more than one of something, it is better to opt for a set of eight or a pair, as the Chinese believe that “good things come in pairs.” Pairs also represent harmony and balance.
Others
There are a few other gifts to avoid.
Sharp objects, such as knives and scissors, imply the giver’s wish to sever the relationship with the receiver.
Mirrors are believed to attract negative energy, especially given their association with ghost stories.
Hats, which are worn during Chinese funeral rituals, carry associations with grief and mourning.
Green hats especially are a no-no as the term “wearing a green hat” is an expression in both Mandarin and Cantonese to describe a man whose romantic partner is cheating on him.
Finally, it is best to avoid gifts that are solely black or white, especially during celebratory occasions, because those colours have long been associated with death and funerals.