The thought of giving your Chinese friends a gift for Chinese New Year is incredibly thoughtful, however, there are some things that'd just deem your kind deed insensitive if didn't take the extra effort to learn their culture.
To save you from earning the unfortunate title of "Worst Friend Ever", here is a list of things you should never EVER give to your Chinese besties:
1. Wallet
Giving someone a wallet in Chinese culture symbolizes giving up all your money away, which represents back luck in your finances.
2. Umbrellas
The word "Umbrella" (場 sǎn /san/) in Chinese sounds a lot like "breaking up" (三sàn), so in a way, giving someone an umbrella could be a subtle way of saying, "I'm breaking up with you." Unless that's not your intention, don't do it.
Don't EVER give them hats. In their culture, hats symbolize grief, and a mourning hat is often used in funeral ceremonies. Green hats, in particular, is a big no. The expression "to wear a green hat(cuckolddài lǜ màozi) implies the fertility of a wife or a spouse. So yeah... definitely not a good thing.
4. Mirrors
Mirrors have the ability to attract ghosts, according to Chinese culture. Need we say more?
5. Shoes
The words 'shoes' (shoes xié /syeah/) sound like... yeah you guessed it: bad luck in that same language. So, skip on the shoes.
6. Anything Of 4
The number 4 means death in Chinese culture, so typically they'd avoid the number like a plague, so you should too.
7. Clocks Or Watches
The phrase "giving a clock" (sòng zhōng /song jong/) sounds eerily similar to 'attending a funeral ritual' (送终 sòng zhōng), so save your money on Rolexes.
8. Cut Flowers
You should never give a Chinese person cut flowers because it represents death in their culture as flowers are often associated with funerals. Fun fact: Yellow Chrysanthemums and any white flowers are a no-no, especially.
9. Scented Candles
Candles are often used as a part of offering rituals to the dead, so typically, you don't want to give someone something that you'd offer to the dead. C'mon, be sensible.
10. Pear
The word 'pears' (李lí /lee/) sounds the same as the word for leaving or 'parting' (离 lí) so, avoid this particular fruit and just stick with mandarin oranges.
11. Sharp Objects
According to Chinese culture, giving someone any sharp object is a symbol of cutting ties. So unless you want to subtly hint that you no longer wish to be their friend, don't give them a sword, a scissor, or anything along those lines .
12. Dolls
The Chinese community believes that the word "doll" means vile characters(小人literally small people), attract violent spirits, which makes sense because have you seen Annabelle?
