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Social Taboos |
| "Like any other race the Chinese has their fair share of taboos, some of them are related to the language and culture." |
| 1. Death is a taboo which is not to be discussed in “joyous” occasions such as Chinese New Year, weddings or birthdays. |
| 2. The number “four” phonetically sounds so much like “death” , that the number four, fourteen, forty-four, etc, are avoided as far as possible. Given a choice a Chinese would not buy house No. 4 of a given street. |
| 3. In the company of fishermen, do not turn the fish over. It symbolises boats capsized. |
| 4. Never buy a clock as a present for any Chinese friend. The word “clock” , has similar sound with the “end” . Giving a clock as a gift [song zhong] sounds like being present at the bedside when a person takes his last breath. |
| 5. Never buy a green hat for any male married friend, as wearing a green hat has the same meaning that his wife commits adultery. |
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