Rakkasan Posted February 16, 2007 Report Share Posted February 16, 2007 Here it is. On my last trip to China I took mini-maglite flashlights as gifts for the men. This time I was thinking of taking Leatherman multi-tools or something similar. I have heard that in China you do not give knives as gifts. Does this cross that line of NOT giving knives as gifts? Would I be creating bad feeling or playing into some superstition? David you insight would be helpful. Thanks in advance Link to comment
kfman Posted February 16, 2007 Report Share Posted February 16, 2007 My wife feels that isnt a great gift. I think if I did it for her two brothers, she would use the knife on me.... hahahha... Link to comment
Urkidding Posted February 16, 2007 Report Share Posted February 16, 2007 Here it is. On my last trip to China I took mini-maglite flashlights as gifts for the men. This time I was thinking of taking Leatherman multi-tools or something similar. I have heard that in China you do not give knives as gifts. Does this cross that line of NOT giving knives as gifts? Would I be creating bad feeling or playing into some superstition? David you insight would be helpful. Thanks in advance When my brother-in-law came here to visit, I bought him one and he really enjoyed it. He thought the quality was really good compared to other knives that were "Made in China" Link to comment
AmericanRooster Posted February 16, 2007 Report Share Posted February 16, 2007 Here it is. On my last trip to China I took mini-maglite flashlights as gifts for the men. This time I was thinking of taking Leatherman multi-tools or something similar. I have heard that in China you do not give knives as gifts. Does this cross that line of NOT giving knives as gifts? Would I be creating bad feeling or playing into some superstition? David you insight would be helpful. Thanks in advanceinteresting... I gave a high-end meat cleaver to my SO's mother on the last visit and she loves it... then again, I know there are lots of sticky details about things... for instance, you should not give a clock (symbolic of your time expiring on earth or something like that), but you can give a watch. Link to comment
MarkD Posted February 16, 2007 Report Share Posted February 16, 2007 I've given several Leatherman tools as gifts and they were all well received. However, even they wore out quickly because they used them all the time. I went back a year later and brought one of the Leatherman back to be repaired (under warranty). Link to comment
tonado Posted February 17, 2007 Report Share Posted February 17, 2007 It is best to ask your SO before you bring them to China. Some families are more superstitious than others, Link to comment
DMikeS4321 Posted February 17, 2007 Report Share Posted February 17, 2007 It is best to ask your SO before you bring them to China. Some families are more superstitious than others, Is there a superstition about this? I took several for brothers/nephews and they were well received, but I showed them to Lao Po online before I bought them. I tell Lao Po all the time that she needs to help me understand all this because there is just so much I don't know... Best Regards Link to comment
tonado Posted February 17, 2007 Report Share Posted February 17, 2007 It is best to ask your SO before you bring them to China. Some families are more superstitious than others, Is there a superstition about this? I took several for brothers/nephews and they were well received, but I showed them to Lao Po online before I bought them. I tell Lao Po all the time that she needs to help me understand all this because there is just so much I don't know... Best Regards http://www.chinatownconnection.com/chinese-superstitions.htm "Do not use knives or scissors on New Year's Day as this may cut off fortune." Link to comment
jim_julian Posted February 17, 2007 Report Share Posted February 17, 2007 Hmmm ... that site also says "Never point at the moon or your ears might get chopped off" ... whew! Glad I saw that!!! B) Link to comment
Steve and Aiwen Posted February 17, 2007 Report Share Posted February 17, 2007 Here it is. On my last trip to China I took mini-maglite flashlights as gifts for the men. This time I was thinking of taking Leatherman multi-tools or something similar. I have heard that in China you do not give knives as gifts. Does this cross that line of NOT giving knives as gifts? Would I be creating bad feeling or playing into some superstition? David you insight would be helpful. Thanks in advance I gave Baba a Gerber multi-tool.....he was delighted with it and wears it all the time....I think this idea of "proper" gifts varies greatly depending on the "progressiveness" of the receipients....I'm lucky in that my new Chinese family is very open and accepting of new ideas.....and me....I'm a lucky guy... Steve Link to comment
jbray Posted February 21, 2007 Report Share Posted February 21, 2007 I think a lot of it just depends on if the family is superstitious. My in-laws aren't... I would also recommend getting swiss-army knives. They are pretty well known in China. You can get them their, but they cost a mint. Link to comment
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