The Art of Giving

27 Aug. 2010 - The act of giving can be a tricky business, in particular in Chinese culture. Giving a watch signifies the end of relationship, bestowing a clock means you are suggesting the recipient is heading for an early grave. In Cantonese, "giving a clock" sounds the same as "seeing someone off at a funeral". One should also not give sharp objects such as knives or scissors, even as housewarming gifts, as doing so would suggest that the relationship will be severed. If you really must give such a gift, tie a red ribbon around the blade. When writing a card to accompany a gift, never use red ink, as red was the color traditionally used in declarations of war between states. However, using a red seal to stamp your Chinese name is not problematic. Confused? Well, I would still accept the watch.