1 Do you have a friend who lives in another country? Or, maybe you have a second-generation American friend whose culture and customs from their country-of-origin are still a very big part of their life. In either case, you may want to learn how to speak the silent language of cross-cultural gift-giving.

2 Sometimes other aspects of a gift have more significance than the gift itself. The meaning that the giver intends may not translate well to the meaning that the receiver interprets.

3 For example, you send an umbrella to your friend, who lives in China. You think, “I really hope this makes her happy.” When she opens it, she wonders, “Why does my friend want to break up with me?” In the Chinese culture umbrellas bring to mind tears and parting.

4 When you engage in cross-cultural gift-giving, consider three things: what you give, how you wrap it, and how you hand it over. 

The Gift Itself

5 In some cases, giving the wrong gift can be worse than giving

nothing. The word for clock in Chinese sounds similar to the word for death. The tick-tock is a reminder of life’s eventual end.

6 In many Asian cultures, if you give a friend a knife, letter opener, or scissors, it can mean that you want to sever the friendship.

7 Don’t give anything made of cow products, like leather or food, to a friend who is Hindu. Hindus eat a vegetarian diet and harming cows is considered taboo.

8 When visiting a Jewish or Muslim friend, avoid giving anything made with pig products. Pigs are considered unclean animals in Judaic and Islamic traditions.

 Dressing the Gift

9 Just like people, a gift should be dressed. The outer wrapping of a present speaks volumes about the intention you have in giving it.

10 If you want to make a good impression, you dress your best. Similarly, if you want your gift to make a good impression, decorate the present in a way that shows you care and took time dressing it up.

11 In American culture white symbolizes purity. In many Asian cultures white and black are used at funerals. In some African cultures, the color red symbolizes blood, so don’t use it for wrapping gifts. 

The Hand-Off

12 Don’t yell “Heads up!” as you lob the gift to your friend from across the room. How you pass the gift to your friend is as important as the contents of the package and how you decorate it. In most cases you should give the gift with both hands to convey respect for your friendship.

13 When handing a gift to a Thai, don’t pass the gift over anyone’s head. This taboo relates to the belief that the head is the throne of the soul.

14 In traditional Muslim cultures the left hand is used for hygiene and the right hand is used for eating. Use your right hand to give the gift.

(479 words)

1. In either case...

在任何一种情况下…… 这里指前面两句提到的情况：有朋友生活在别的国家；有朋友是第二代美国人。

2. The word for clock in Chinese sounds similar to the word for death.

在中文里，钟和死亡（“终”）发音相似。这里“死亡”一词应该是中文里的“终”这个词。

3. Don’t give anything made of cow products, like leather or food, to a friend who is Hindu.

不要送印度教徒任何与牛相关的产品，如皮革或食物。made of cow products是后置定语，修饰anything。anything made with pig products同此。

4. The outer wrapping of a present speaks volumes about the intention you have in giving it.

 礼物的外包装充分说明了你送此礼物想要表达的意思。这句话的意思是说你想对礼物接受方表达什么意思或给予什么印象，在很大的程度上可以由礼物的包装来体现。you have是定语从句，修饰intention。it指代a present。

5. Don’t yell “Heads up!” as you lob the gift to your friend from across the room.

不要一边嚷着“小心接好！”一边从房间一头把礼物抛给朋友。这里don’t否定的是包括as从句在内的整句话。