Think gift-giving is easy? Not always — especially in Chinese culture 😅

In this episode, we talk about Chinese gift-giving taboos and the surprising reasons why clocks, shoes, umbrellas, pears, and even green hats can send the wrong message.

With funny examples, natural dialogues, and pronunciation practice, you’ll learn Chinese while picking up real cultural tips you can actually use. Learn how to avoid awkward moments, sound more natural, and understand what gifts really mean in Chinese.

送礼看起来很简单，但在中国文化里，可没那么容易 😅

这一集我们用轻松有趣的对话，带你认识常见的送礼禁忌，看看为什么钟、鞋、伞、梨，甚至绿帽子，都可能让人误会你的意思。

通过真实情境、自然对话和发音练习，帮你在开心中学中文，不仅学会怎么说，更懂中国文化在想什么。

Sònglǐ kàn qǐlái hěn jiǎndān, dàn zài Zhōngguó wénhuà lǐ, kě méi nàme róngyì 😅

Zhè yí jí wǒmen yòng qīngsōng yǒuqù de duìhuà, dài nǐ rènshi chángjiàn de sònglǐ jìnjì, kànkan wèishénme zhōng, xié, sǎn, lí, shènzhì lǜ màozi, dōu kěnéng ràng rén wùhuì nǐ de yìsi.

Tōngguò zhēnshí qíngjìng, zìrán duìhuà hé fāyīn liànxí, bāng nǐ zài kāixīn zhōng xué Zhōngwén, Bù jǐn xuéhuì zěnme shuō, gèng dǒng Zhōngguó wénhuà zài xiǎng shénme.

Dialogue 1:

小王: 我打算买个钟送给李老师，你觉得怎么样？

(Xiǎo Wáng): Wǒ dǎsuàn mǎi gè zhōng sòng gěi Lǐ lǎoshī, nǐ juéde zěnmeyàng?

I’m thinking about giving a clock to Teacher Li — what do you think?

小李: 千万别！送钟在中国是大忌！

(Xiǎo Lǐ): Qiānwàn bié! Sòng zhōng zài Zhōngguó shì dà jì!

Don’t ever do that! Giving a clock is a big taboo in China!

小王: 啊？为什么？

(Xiǎo Wáng): A? Wèishénme?

Huh? Why?

小李: 因为“送钟”听起来像“送终”，很不吉利。

(Xiǎo Lǐ): Yīnwèi “sòng zhōng” tīng qǐlái xiàng “sòng zhōng”, hěn bù jílì.

Because “giving a clock” sounds like “attending a funeral” — it’s unlucky!

小王: 原来如此！那我改送点别的吧。(I can comment on this structure here)

(Xiǎo Wáng): Yuánlái rúcǐ! Nà wǒ gǎi sòng diǎn bié de ba.

I see! Then I’ll give something else instead.

Dialogue 2:

小美: 你看我给男朋友买了一双鞋，好看吗？

(Xiǎo Měi): Nǐ kàn wǒ gěi nánpéngyou mǎi le yì shuāng xié, hǎokàn ma?

Look, I bought a pair of shoes for my boyfriend! Aren’t they nice?

小芳: 鞋很好看，不过听说送鞋有点不吉利。

(Xiǎo Fāng): Xié hěn hǎokàn, búguò tīngshuō sòng xié yǒudiǎn bù jílì.

They’re nice, but I heard giving shoes is a bit unlucky.

小美: 是吗？那怎么办？

(Xiǎo Měi): Shì ma? Nà zěnmebàn?

Really? What should I do then?

小芳: 很简单，你让他给你一块钱，就当是“买”的，不是“送”的。

(Xiǎo Fāng): Hěn jiǎndān, nǐ ràng tā gěi nǐ yí kuài qián, jiù dāng shì “mǎi” de, bú shì “sòng” de.

Easy! Just ask him to give you one yuan — that way, it’s like he bought the shoes, not that you gave them.

小美: 哈哈，好主意！

(Xiǎo Měi): Hāhā, hǎo zhǔyì!

Haha, good idea!