礼物的问题啊？

[xiaojiang216]

大家好！

I heard somewhere that giving a Chinese person a clock as a gift symbolizes the time they have left until they die. Is this true? If so, does the same idea apply to a calendar? It's not really a gift... I'm just giving it to someone because they need a calendar. I'm giving one to my girlfriend's sisters, and one to her and her parents. Her parents are from Guangdong, and I'm not sure if they would like it or not. Also, I thought it would be nice if I made a "Happy Chinese New Year" card in Chinese for each member of the family.

!

Thank you very much!

敬祝安好！

[roddy]

I think the clock thing is because of the pronunciation - 钟 - clock and 终, which can mean to die.

You could perhaps get around this by presenting a clock and saying proudly that 'zhong1' can also mean China, and it is therefore a highly patriotic present.

Never heard of anything that means you can't give calendars though.

Roddy

[Quest]

Calendars are fine, but could be too trivial for a gift for the in laws. Avoid giving clocks by all means -- equivalent to telling them "I wish you all go to hell soon, why haven't you died already."

[skylee]

Clocks are no-no .

Calendars are fine, especially at the end/beginning of a year. But I agree with what Quest said.

Watches are ok gifts. Expensive watches are good gifts.

[xiaojiang216]

Alright, thank you so much!

I really want to show her parents how I care about them as well! After all, I'm learning Cantonese just so that I can communicate with her parents! Her father can speak some Mandarin, but I don't want to leave out her mother. So I hope they will like me!

Thank you all for your help!

[geraldc]

Chinese supersitions can be a nightmare.

I went to Gracelands a few years, and I sent a postcard of Elvis back to one of my friends in the UK (who also happens to be Chinese). When I told my mum this, I was then told off for sending a picture of a dead person to someone, she was only concerned as my friend's mum was pretty superstitious too...There are far too many superstitions out there, that no one tells you about until you break them.

[889]

Confused about Chinese taboos?

Then get yourself a copy of 中国禁忌百科 published by 四川人民出版社 (1995).

You'll find 2000 taboos spread out over 500 pages.

Something there to prohibit just about anything you might think of doing.

[Quest]

礼物的问题啊？

btw, wrong usage of 啊。

[889]

And just 28RMB if you really want a copy:

http://www.kongfz.com/bookstore/1757/book_2176910.html

[adrianlondon]

I've been told it's ok to give watches and, to a lesser extent clocks, provided they're not gifts. The trick is for the person receiving the "gift" to give you a few RMB as a token payment.