送礼的学问 The Art of Gift Giving

在zài中国Zhōngguó，送礼sònglǐ是shì一门yì mén学问xuéwen，送sòng什么shénme、怎么zěnme送sòng，都dōu很hěn有yǒu讲究jiǎngjiu。

In China, gift giving is an art: what to give and how to give it both follow particular rules.

比如bǐrú，去qù朋友péngyou家jiā的de时候shíhou可以kěyǐ带dài水果shuǐguǒ，数字shùzì最好zuìhǎo是shì双数shuāngshù，因为yīnwèi双数shuāngshù表示biǎoshì好事hǎoshì。

For example, when visiting a friend's home you can bring fruit, and the number had better be even, because even numbers represent good things.

有些yǒuxiē东西dōngxi不能bù néng随便suíbiàn送sòng：钟表zhōngbiǎo不行bù xíng，伞sǎn也yě不行bù xíng，因为yīnwèi它们tāmen的de发音fāyīn让ràng人rén想到xiǎngdào不好bù hǎo的de意思yìsi。

Some things must not be given casually: clocks are out, and so are umbrellas, because their pronunciation makes people think of unlucky meanings.

我wǒ的de外国wàiguó朋友péngyou听了tīngle很hěn吃惊chījīng，他tā说shuō在zài他tā的de国家guójiā，送sòng什么shénme都dōu可以kěyǐ。

My foreign friend was very surprised to hear this; he said that in his country, you can give anything.

其实qíshí，礼物lǐwù不用bú yòng太tài贵guì，重要zhòngyào的de是shì你nǐ的de心意xīnyì。

Actually, a gift doesn't need to be expensive; what matters is your thoughtfulness.

收shōu礼物lǐwù的de时候shíhou也yě有yǒu文化wénhuà：很多hěn duō中国人Zhōngguórén会huì先xiān客气kèqi地de说shuō“不用了bú yòng le”，然后ránhòu才cái收下shōuxià。

Receiving gifts has its culture too: many Chinese people will first politely say "you shouldn't have," and only then accept.

以前yǐqián，很多hěn duō人rén不会bú huì马上mǎshàng打开dǎkāi礼物lǐwù，现在xiànzài的de年轻人niánqīngrén常常chángcháng一边yìbiān打开dǎkāi一边yìbiān说shuō谢谢xièxie。

In the past, many people would not open a gift right away; today's young people often open it while saying thank you.

送礼sònglǐ送sòng的de不只是bù zhǐshì东西dōngxi，更gèng是shì人rén和hé人rén的de感情gǎnqíng。

What gift giving really gives is not just things, but even more the affection between people.

🔊 Audio uses your device's Chinese voice for now — teacher recordings are coming. Tap any word to see its meaning.

Key words 生词

送礼sònglǐto give gifts

学问xuéwenart; branch of knowledge

讲究jiǎngjiuparticular rules; to be particular

双数shuāngshùeven number

心意xīnyìthoughtfulness; kind intention

吃惊chījīngsurprised

不用 + V

'no need to...' — a soft way to say something is unnecessary. Note the tone change: bú yòng.

礼物不用太贵。

不只是……更是……

'not only... but even more...' — the second part is the deeper or more important point.

送礼送的不只是东西,更是人和人的感情。

让人 + V

'makes people...' — 让 introduces the person affected and the resulting action or feeling.

它们的发音让人想到不好的意思。

1. 去朋友家带水果,数字最好是什么?

2. 为什么不能送钟表和伞?

3. 作者觉得礼物最重要的是什么?

After this reading

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