The high trick of giving gifts - at hundreds of megabits

1.Be kind and courteous in attitude

When giving gifts, attention should be paid to attitude, actions, and verbal expressions. A gentle and friendly demeanor accompanied by polite verbal expressions is what the recipient will gladly accept. The act of stealthily placing a gift under the table or in a corner of the room not only fails to achieve the purpose of giving but may even have the opposite effect. In some Chinese customs, when giving gifts, people often excessively humbly say: "It's a grand gift! It's a grand gift!" "It's just a small token," or "I'm very sorry..." This practice is best avoided. Of course, if one boasts while giving: "This is very precious!" it is also inappropriate. When introducing the gift, emphasis should be placed on the goodwill and affection one has for the recipient rather than on the actual value of the gift, otherwise, it falls into the trap of valuing expensive gifts over meaningful gestures, which might even make the other party feel as if they are receiving a bribe.

2.Gift-giving must adhere to the principle of avoiding taboos

For example, China generally has the saying "Good things come in pairs," so for all celebrations and joyous events, gifts should be given in pairs rather than singly. However, people from Guangdong province avoid the even number "4" because in Cantonese, "4" sounds like "death," which is considered unlucky. Although white symbolizes purity and innocence, the Chinese tend to avoid it because in China, white is often associated with great sorrow and poverty. Similarly, black is seen as an unlucky color, representing misfortune and mourning. Red, on the other hand, is a symbol of celebration, harmony, and festivity, widely liked by people. Additionally, in China, it is customary not to give clocks to the elderly, or pears to couples or lovers, because "giving a clock" sounds like "attending a funeral," and "pear" sounds like "separation," both of which are considered unlucky. Moreover, one should not give medicine to the weak, or intimate items to members of the opposite sex.

3.The gift may be light, but the sentiment is heavy

When giving gifts, specific circumstances and occasions should be considered. Generally, when attending a private dinner party, one should bring some small gifts for the female host, such as a bouquet, fruit, or local specialties. If there are children, toys or candies can be given. When invited to a wedding, besides artistic decorative items, one can also give bouquets and practical items. During New Year or Christmas, calendars, alcohol, tea, candy, cigarettes, etc., are generally suitable gifts.

4.Grasp the timing and method of giving gifts

Gifts are generally presented in person, but sometimes at weddings, they can be sent beforehand. For holiday greetings and year-end gifts, someone can be sent to deliver them or they can be mailed. In this case, a business card of the giver should be attached to the gift, or a handwritten greeting can be placed in an appropriately sized envelope, with the name of the recipient noted, and affixed above the gift packaging. Normally, publicly giving a gift to only one person among a group is inappropriate. The recipient may feel as if they are being bribed or teased, and those who did not receive a gift may feel neglected or disrespected. Giving gifts to close relations in public should also be avoided to prevent the impression that your relationship is entirely supported by materialistic things. Only special gifts that are light but carry significant sentiment are appropriate to present openly.

5.Consider customs and traditions

Adapting one’s etiquette according to the individual, occasion, and place is one of the standards of social protocol, and the choice of gifts should also conform to this standard. The selection of gifts should vary based on different recipients. Generally speaking, for those who are poor, practical gifts are best; for the wealthy, exquisite gifts are preferable; for lovers, sentimental gifts are ideal; for friends, shared interests make good gifts; for the elderly, useful items are appreciated; for children, intelligent and novel gifts are favored; and for foreign guests, characteristic gifts are most suitable.