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GIFT GIVING IN CHINA*
- Gift Giving Etiquette
BUSINESS GIFT GIVING -
PERSONAL GIFT GIVING
General Guidelines
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Lavish gift giving
was an important part of Chinese culture in the past. Today, official
policy in Chinese business culture forbids giving gifts; this gesture is
considered bribery, an illegal act in this country. Consequently, your
gift may be declined.
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In many
organizations, however, attitudes surrounding gifts are beginning to
relax. In any case, you will have to approach giving gifts with
discretion, as outlined in the following points.
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If you wish to give
a gift to an individual, you must do it privately, in the context of
friendship, not business.
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The Chinese will
decline a gift three times before finally accepting, so as not to appear
greedy. You will have to continue to insist. Once the gift is accepted,
express gratitude. You will be expected to go through the same routine if
you are offered a gift.
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In the presence of
other people, never present a valuable gift to one person. This gesture
will cause only embarrassment, and possibly even problems for the
recipient, given the strict rules against bribery in Chinese business
culture. Do not take any photograph of any gift giving unless it is a
symbolic gift presented to the organization as a whole.
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Giving a gift to the
entire company, rather than an individual, can be acceptable in Chinese
business culture as long as you adhere to the following rules:
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All business negotiations should be concluded before gifts are exchanged.
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Specify that the gift is from the company you represent. If you can,
explain the meaning of the gift to the receiver.
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Present the gift to the leader of the Chinese negotiating team.
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Do not get anything that is obviously expensive, so that the company will
not feel obliged to reciprocate.
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Valuable gifts
should be given to an individual only in private and strictly as a gesture
of friendship.
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Make sure that the
gifts given to people of the same level of importance are equitable or of
similar grade. Somehow, they may find out later, and the difference may
lead to strains in your relationship.
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Do not wrap a gift
before arriving in China, as it may be unwrapped in Customs.
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If possible, have
your gifts wrapped in red paper, which is considered a lucky color. Plain red paper is one of the few “safe” choices since a
variety of meanings, many of which are negative, are attributed to colors
in Chinese culture.
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Pink and gold and
silver are also acceptable colors for gift wrap. Wrapping
in yellow paper with black writing is a gift given only to the dead. Also,
do check the variations from region to region about colors.
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Because colors have so many different meanings in this culture, your safest
option is to entrust the task of gift-wrapping to a store or hotel that
offers this service.
Appreciated Gifts
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a good cognac, or other fine liqueur
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a fine pen [not a pen with red ink--writing in red ink symbolizes
severing ties]
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solar calculators
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kitchen gadgets
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stamps, if the recipient is interested in them [stamp collecting is very
popular]
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a cigarette lighter, assuming the recipient is a smoker
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Often, gifts are not opened in the presence of the giver.
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Acceptable gifts for a company include items from your country or city, such
as handicrafts, or an illustrated book. Be sure to bring a supply of these
items with you, so that you can reciprocate if it happens that you are
presented with a gift.
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A banquet is usually a welcome gift; since it's likely you will be invited
to one, you will have to follow Chinese business protocol and reciprocate.
In some parts of China, although senior local officials host the welcoming
party, you might be expected to pay for the cost of the banquet. Check this
out and be prepared.
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Gifts of food are acceptable, but not at dinner parties or other occasions
where appetizers and meals will be served. Candy and fruit baskets, however,
are acceptable as thank-you gifts sent after these events.
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Eight is considered one of the luckiest numbers in Chinese culture. If you
receive eight of any item, consider it a gesture of good will. Six is
considered a blessing for smoothness and problem free advances. Four is a
taboo because it means 'death.' Other numbers such as '73' meaning 'the
funeral' and '84' meaning 'having accidents' are to be avoided.
Gifts to Avoid
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Scissors, knives, or
other sharp objects can be interpreted as the severing of a friendship or
other bond. As a gesture of friendship, if you do want to give these items
as a gift, ask your friend to give you a very small amount of money, such as
10 cents or One RMB in return for this gift. By doing so,
you would have 'sold' it to him rather than given it to him.
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The following items
are to be avoided as they are associated with funerals: Straw sandals,
clocks, handkerchiefs, four of any item [the Cantonese word for “four”
sounds similar, in the same language, to “death”], gifts or wrapping paper
in white, black, or blue.
*Chen, Peter P.W. China Business Etiquette
- Gift Giving. Executive Planet. 30 July 2004
<http://www.executiveplanet.com/business-culture-in/132272288540.html>
<http://www.executiveplanet.com/business-culture-in/132272346303.html>.
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Above: The flag of China
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