Chinese Gift Exchange Customs (part 2)

Do Know)

• In China, you can treat money as a formal gift.
• Gifts should be given in pair or eight, because these numbers mean lucky.
• Do use both hands when accepting and giving gift.
• The Chinese people will refuse to accept the gift for the first couple of offers.

Don't

• Don't give gift in a pack of four. The word "Four" rhymes with death.
• Don't expect the Chinese people to open their gift in front of the guest.
• Anything considers being weapon or sharp object not a very good choice of gift.
• Clock and shoe are not to be giving because its rhythm with the word "Funeral."

Do you love money?

The gift that people can most appreciate is money. Yes, you heard it correctly. In China, money can be a very formal gift. Sometime, you might see people exchange it in a red envelope. This practice is very common when Chinese New Year comes around.

It is best to give gifts in pairs or eight. Four is a very bad number in Chinese culture. The word "Four" in Chinese sound like death and "Eight" rhymes with lucky. For example, if you bring some beers as gift to a family, best to bring two really large bottle or eight small ones.

What if in some circumstance you stuck with four bottle, in this case, you should treat yourself two of them and the other two as gift (see, something good always come out of a good deed.)

When you are accepting or giving gifts, it is best to use both hands. In Asian's culture, this gesture shows that you are sincere and respect others.

Also, Chinese people will not open give in front of the guest, instead they will open it after everyone have left. This gesture shows that they are not greedy, (or easier to hide the expression when they get something that they do not want such as socks). Just kidding, socks are cool. Thank you, grandma.

Another reason to not open the gift in front of the giver is because they do not want you to compare theirs with the gift that you are giving them.

Expect Chinese people refuse to accept the gift first couple times, because they do not to appear too greedy. What you need to do is persistently put the gift back into their hands.

Do you love money?

Why you may ask? This object means that the relationship between you and the other person is shatter, over, bond have been cut, no turning back, and etc... I think you get the point.

You can accept or give these gifts under one exception, which it has to be in a form of purchase. For example, if your friend have a sword that he want you have, you can give him one penny for the sword. Reason? When money is involve, it becomes a form of purchase rather than gift giving.

Things you cannot give under any circumstance will mostly be clock and shoes (including sandal.) The word "Clock" in Chinese sound likes the word "Funeral." And if you give a person a pair of shoes, soon or later the two of you will separate.

Hope that you are enjoy article. Have a good night, and thank you for stopping by.

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