30-06-2025
- General
- South China Morning Post
Gifts you must avoid giving in Chinese culture, from clocks and shoes to pears
Many objects are considered auspicious in Chinese culture.
Red items , for example, are thought to be lucky because of the colour's associations with good fortune and prosperity – red clothing is commonly worn during Lunar New Year as it symbolises new beginnings.
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
Giving timepieces as gifts is a no-no in Chinese culture. Photo: Shutterstock
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.
