It’s always pleasant to receive gifts from your friends. However, there are several things that Chinese people would never consider to be appropriate gifts for anyone in terms of Chinese culture and superstitions. Therefore, it’s important to know what things you are not advised to give as presents in China. Let’s find out.

菊花 (júhuā): chrysanthemum

In most countries, girls are happy to receive flowers, and China is no exception. However, there is a type of flower that not a single Chinese girl would like to receive as a present, and that is chrysanthemum. Chrysanthemums get very popular during the Tomb Sweeping Festival every year in that people use them to commemorate deceased family members or friends

钟 (zhōng): clock

If it’s not sensible to give chrysanthemums as presents from a cultural point of view, the reason why clocks are not the ideal choice for gifts has to do with its pronunciation. In Chinese, the phrase for “to give someone a clock as a gift” sounds like “送钟 (song zhōng)”, and it’s exactly the same as the pronunciation of another

鞋 (xié): shoes

In Chinese, “鞋 (xié): shoes” shares the same pronunciation with another character “邪 (xié)”, which means “evil”. That’s why receiving a pair of shoes as a gift is considered inauspicious. Nevertheless, nowadays superstitions related to shoes don’t play a significant role in young people’s life in China. Therefore, Chinese girls would be very happy if they receive a pair of designer shoes from their friends.

梨 (lí): pear

Similar to the previous two items, the pronunciation of “梨 (lí)” is exactly the same as the word “离(lí)”, which means “be apart”. Hence, receiving a pear has a hidden meaning that two people would be apart according to Chinese culture.

绿帽子 (lǜ màozi): green hat

It’s perfectly fine to give your friend a hat as a present. However, you’ll have to be careful what color you choose for the hat. In Chinese culture, a green hat is associated with infidelity, and it usually insinuates that a wife cheats on her husband. Consequently, if a man receives a green hat as a present, he would feel offended because it makes him feel as if he were the victim of a loveless marriage.