In Chinese culture, it’s important to avoid giving certain gifts due to their negative connotations or superstitions. Here are two presents you should avoid:
- Clocks: The word for “clock” sounds like the word for “funeral” in Chinese, so giving someone a clock is associated with death and is considered extremely unlucky. It’s like wishing their time runs out. This superstition is deeply rooted in Chinese culture, and giving a clock can be seen as a bad omen, symbolizing the end of a relationship or even life itself. It’s best to steer clear of clocks as gifts, especially for significant occasions like birthdays or weddings.
- Sharp Objects: Giving knives, scissors, or other sharp objects can be interpreted as cutting off relationships or causing harm. In Chinese culture, sharp objects symbolize severing ties and can bring bad luck to both the giver and the receiver. This belief is so strong that if you must give a sharp object, it’s customary to ask for a small payment in return, usually a coin, to neutralize the negative implications. This way, the sharp object is considered “sold” rather than given as a gift, which helps to avoid the bad luck associated with it.
