How to give gifts to foreigners
In international communication, people often express gratitude and congratulations by giving gifts to enhance friendship. When giving gifts to foreign friends, we should consider the preferences of the recipient as much as possible. "Give whatever the recipient likes" is the most basic gift-giving principle. If you don't know each other's preferences, it is safer to choose handicrafts with national characteristics. China's common kites, erhu, flute, paper-cutting, chopsticks, stamps, facial makeup, calligraphy and painting, tea, etc. are often favored by foreign friends, and their value is multiplied. Gifts are not important, but they should be appropriate. Sometimes giving too expensive gifts will upset the recipients.
Generally speaking, face-to-face is the best way to give gifts. Westerners attach great importance to the packaging of gifts when giving them. People in most countries are used to packing with colored wrapping paper and silk ribbon, while western European countries like to use light-colored wrapping paper. When giving a gift to a foreign friend, you should not only explain the meaning, characteristics and uses of the gift, but also explain that it is carefully selected for the other party. Don't gild the lily by saying "It's a piece of cake, I really can't get it". This modest statement will greatly reduce the weight of the gift. Different from the custom of China people, in western countries, we should express our gratitude immediately after accepting the gift and open it ourselves. No matter what the value of the gift is, we should appreciate it.
Give gifts in time. In some countries, only the other party can give gifts in return; In some countries (such as Japan), gifts should be given when there are not many people; In Arab countries, there must be other people present, so that gifts will not be suspected of bribery. In Britain, the right time to give a gift is to invite others to dinner or after watching a performance in the theater. In France, friends who meet for the first time can't give gifts, so we should wait for the right time when we meet next time.
Due to the different customs in different countries, the types and ways of giving gifts are also different.
Japanese Japanese people regard giving gifts as a material expression of expressing their wishes to each other. The gift is not thick. If it is delivered properly, it will leave a deep impression on the other party. China's Four Treasures of the Study, celebrity calligraphy and painting, handicrafts and so on are the most popular, but the size of calligraphy and painting should not be too large. Gift packaging should not be hasty, even a box of tea should be careful, but the Japanese dare not tie a bow. China people pay attention to sending cigarettes and wine, while Japanese people send wine without cigarettes. China people give gifts in pairs, while Japanese people avoid giving gifts in pairs. They usually use odd numbers such as 1, 3, 5, 7, but they are afraid of "9" because the pronunciation of "9" is the same as "bitter" in Japanese. According to Japanese custom, gifts for individuals must be given in private, not in public.
There are two occasions for communication between the United States and Americans. Naturally, congratulations and friendship can be expressed through gifts. One is during Christmas every year, and the other is when you arrive and leave the United States. If you are working, you can send some office supplies or choose some exquisite handicrafts with ethnic characteristics. In the United States, inviting guests to dinner, drinking a glass of wine or spending the weekend in a villa is regarded as a more common form of "giving gifts". You just need to express your gratitude for it, and you don't need to make any other repayment. Generally speaking, there is no need to give big gifts when visiting Americans' homes. Just bring some small gifts such as flowers, wine and handicrafts. If you go to dinner empty-handed, it means that you will invite you back.
Gifts from European countries are not very popular in Europe. Even in major festivals and festive occasions, such gifts are limited to family members or close friends. Guests don't have to worry about giving gifts, and the host will never be unhappy because the other party didn't give gifts or the gifts were too light. Germans do not pay attention to the price of gifts, as long as they give their favorite gifts, the packaging should be perfect. It is forbidden to wrap gifts in white, brown or black paper. The French think champagne, brandy, candy, perfume, etc. As a good gift, books and picture books that reflect cultural literacy are also very popular; British people like flowers, famous wines, small crafts and chocolates, but they don't appreciate gifts decorated with guests' company logos.
Handicrafts from Arab country China are very popular in this area. Vivid wood carvings or stone carving animals, antique porcelain vases, brocade or wooden fans, landscape paintings, flower-and-bird paintings and tri-colored Tang Dynasty are all good gifts. When giving gifts to Arabs, we should respect their national and religious customs, and don't send photos of ancient ladies, because Arabs don't want the image of women to hang high in the hall; Don't send alcohol, because most Arab countries explicitly prohibit alcohol; Gifts to women must be given through husbands or fathers, and it is even more taboo to give jewelry to women.
Britain: Don't give gifts with elephants and cranes. Elephants represent stupidity, cranes represent sluts.
Japan: Don't give gifts with numbers 8 and 9. August is the off-season of business, and the pronunciation of 9 is similar to "bitter". And don't give gifts with chrysanthemum patterns. In Japan, chrysanthemum is a special design of the royal family.
Some Southeast Asian countries: Don't give yellow gifts.
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