23 Jan 12 Chinese Gift Exchange – 17 Common Dos and Don’ts That You Should Know

Chinese gift exchange can be very confusing at times, simply because you don’t know what is appropriate to buy, or once you have bought the item you’re afraid that you may offend them in some way. This short article will concentrate on all the dos and don’ts while buying a gift for a Chinese family or friend.

Now let’s get started on Chinese gift exchange.

Do (know)

In China, normally you can treat money as a formal gift.
Gifts should be given in pairs or eights, because these numbers (2, mean luck.
When accepting or receiving gifts, you should remember to use both hands at all times.
As the gift-giver, you should be aware that the Chinese people will refuse to accept the gift for the first couple of offers, but keep insisting and they will take it.
Red and pink are the favorite colors for giving gifts in Asian culture. People believe that it will bring happiness and wealth.
The most common gifts you can give to a Chinese family are home appliances, such as: TVs, DVDs, or kitchen appliances.
Personally, I think the best gifts for young people are books, especially illustrated books.
For Chinese children, action figures such as Batman and Superman are really popular.
For a man, the most popular gifts are wallets and watches, and these are suitable for all ages.
If you know the family that you are visiting has elderly people, foods (fruit, traditional cake, foreign wine) and vitamins can be excellent gifts and will be well appreciated.

Don’t

Don’t give gifts in packs of four, because the number four rhymes with death. If you are bringing beer in a pack of four, you may have to drink by yourself.
After accepting the gift, don’t expect the Chinese people to open their gift in front of the guest. This is because they do not want to appear too greedy.
Anything considered as a weapon, or any sharp object is not a good choice for a gift. So- knives, swords, guns, and scissors are out of the question.
Clocks and shoes are not the gift of choice because when pronounced they rhyme with the word “funeral.”                                                                                                                                                            
One color to be avoided is white. Chinese use the color white to honor death.
Flowers should not be given carelessly. The Chinese people only give flowers when there is a funeral. However, this point of view has gradually changed, due to exposure to the West.
Don’t give Anti-Communist books. It’s just common sense.

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