Avoid Gifting These Taboo Items in Taiwan

Giving gifts is a very important social custom in Taiwan. People give gifts to build good relationships, say thank you, and celebrate special days. However, there are some hidden rules that you need to know. For the uninitiated, a nice gift can quickly become an awkward mistake if the item has a bad cultural meaning.

The most famous taboo is the clock. In Mandarin, the phrase 'giving a clock' (送鐘) sounds just like 'going to a funeral' (送終). Receiving a clock makes people think about death, which makes it a very impolite gift, especially for older people. If you receive a clock as a gift, there is a simple workaround. You can 'buy' the clock by giving a small coin back to the giver. This changes the gift into a regular sale.

Fruit can also cause problems. Apples are great because they mean safety. However, you should not give pears (梨子) to couples because the word for pear sounds like 'separation' (離). Also, pineapples (鳳梨) are good for businesses because they bring money, but they are taboo in hospitals. The Taiwanese Hokkien word for pineapple is 'ông-lâi' (旺來), which means 'prosperity comes'. For hospital workers, this means too many sick patients will come.