Although one may think it is pure superstition that certain items are tabooed as gifts, it is important to remember that gifts are meant to be appreciated by the recipients. Proper business etiquette includes understanding the culture of business colleagues. Many beliefs in the Chinese culture are based on cultural values, feng shui, and religious teachings. However, a fair amount of common beliefs are purely based on symbolism.

Items to Avoid in Chinese Gift Giving

The following list contains a few examples of items that should be avoided as gifts to a traditional Chinese family or in a business setting.

Wok - A wok in colloquial Cantonese also means a small disaster, usually at home or in the office. Giving someone a wok symbolizes asking someone to take the blame for something that has gone wrong. In modern days, the frying pan is also avoided as a gift in Chinese culture because of its name in Chinese (a "flat-bottom" wok).

Clock - Clock bears the same sound as "the end" in both Cantonese and Mandarin. "Attending a funeral" of someone in Chinese is usually called "giving the end" of a person. Most people would naturally prefer not to be at the receiving end of someone giving a clock. Many people include wrist watches in the clock category when it comes to gift giving although the Chinese character for watch has a completely different sound than that of the character for clock.

Shoes - Shoes bear the same sound as "rough" or "uneven" in colloquial Cantonese. Giving a pair of shoes to someone symbolizes wishing the recipient a rough road ahead. Remember, shoes include dress shoes, sandals, flip-flops, and runners.