Gifts you must avoid giving in Chinese culture, from clocks and shoes to pears – and why
Some common presents in the West are considered bad luck in Chinese culture. Avoid giving these items to friends and loved ones
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.
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.