Chinese wedding gift from online friend?

[bizzyliz68]

I want to give my online Chinese female friend a traditional wedding gift. I've 'known' her for over a year now, though we have never met face-to-face. I just heard from her coworker she left her job last night to get married. I did research on the internet and I understand that a gift option is cash in a red envelope, and 8 is a lucky number.

I want to send 88.00. Is this acceptable from an overseas friend who is not invited to/attending the wedding? Is it 88.00 for each person? Is USD acceptable? I do not want to offend the newlyweds.

[anonymoose]

Of course usually such gifts are in RMB, but I'm sure USD will be equally well appreciated. And, no, it's not usually given to each person separately. In chinese culture, once married, financially the couple is a single unit (which in practice means the man has to hand over all his savings and salary to his wife, but if he's very lucky, she'll let him keep a little as pocket money).

[bizzyliz68]

Thank you!

[skylee]

In chinese culture, once married, financially the couple is a single unit (which in practice means the man has to hand over all his savings and salary to his wife, but if he's very lucky, she'll let him keep a little as pocket money).

This is not universally true, you know.

[Shadowdh]

This is not universally true, you know.

I dont know Skylee... the same seems to apply here in they UK...

[anonymoose]

This is not universally true, you know.

Which part's not universally true? Anyway, my point was that a single hong bao is given to a couple when they get married, not one each. Don't tell me that's not universally true?

[cababunga]

I want to send 88.00

I think, if you want to play with number 8, it's better to put eight $10 bills then whatever makes up $88.

[zhxlier]

Actually I think cash for an online friend is too much. Just send the new couple a card.

[simonlaing]

As someone who just got married chinese style, I can assure you Cash or some sort of money is the best way. Don't give stuffed animals we got 5 teddy couples, though neither of us really like stuffed animals.

if you're giving a hong bao, red bag of money you don't have to stress the 8 . 9 is considered the largest number so you can give that or just a round number. The idea and utility is most helpful.

Good luck,

Simon:)

P.S. my wife did get some jewelry from some relatives which was nice as well.

[skylee]

if you're giving a hong bao, red bag of money you don't have to stress the 8 . 9 is considered the largest number so you can give that or just a round number.

Better stick to 8, or an even number, or just give a hundred. Some people somewhere might consider it unlucky receiving money of odd number, even if it is 9 (in my office when we collect condolence money people always give HKD101, HKD501, etc.).

[Lu]

I was told that 2, 6 and 8 are the good numbers for wedding hongbao. Even numbers, because the couple is a couple now. 4 is obviously a bad number, even though it's even.

[imron]

I've also heard co-workers complaining about this in that they knew a person well enough to give more than RMB 200, but not really well enough to give them RMB 600, but that there was nothing appropriate in between.

[Lu]

Y360?

[imron]

They said it was better to only use hundred notes rather than having a mix of different ones (you don't want it to look like you're just giving them your loose change).