lǐwù: 礼物 - Gift, Present

• Keywords: lǐwù, 礼物, Chinese gift, present in Chinese, gift giving in China, Chinese culture gift, what is liwu, gift etiquette China, sòng lǐ
• Summary: Learn the meaning of 礼物 (lǐwù), the essential Chinese word for “gift” or “present.” This guide explores not just the translation, but the deep cultural significance of gift-giving in China, from building relationships (关系, guānxi) to common etiquette and taboos. Understand what gifts to give, how to give them, and what to avoid, with practical examples for beginner learners.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): lǐwù
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 2
• Concise Definition: A gift or a present; an item given to someone without expectation of payment.
• In a Nutshell: 礼物 (lǐwù) is the general term for a physical gift. While it translates directly to “gift,” in China a 礼物 is much more than a simple object. It is a fundamental tool for showing respect, expressing gratitude, and building or maintaining social relationships (关系, guānxi). The act of giving a gift, 送礼 (sòng lǐ), is steeped in ritual and cultural expectations.

• 礼 (lǐ): This character means “rite,” “ceremony,” “propriety,” or “courtesy.” It's composed of 示 (shì), representing an altar or matters of spirituality, and 丰 (fēng), depicting a vessel full of ceremonial jade. Together, they signify a proper, ritualistic offering. It's the core of words like “etiquette” (礼节, lǐjié).
• 物 (wù): This character simply means “thing,” “matter,” or “object.” It represents a tangible item.
• The combination 礼物 (lǐwù) literally translates to a “rite object” or “courtesy item.” This perfectly captures its meaning: it's not just any object, but an object given as part of a social courtesy or ritual, carrying with it feelings of respect and goodwill.

Gift-giving is a cornerstone of Chinese social interaction. Unlike in many Western cultures where a gift can be a spontaneous gesture, in China, a 礼物 (lǐwù) is often an expected part of social protocol.

• Relationship to 关系 (guānxi) and 人情 (rénqíng): Giving a 礼物 is a primary way to establish, strengthen, and maintain 关系 (guānxi), or one's network of personal relationships. Accepting a gift often creates a sense of 人情 (rénqíng), a social obligation or favor that the receiver is expected to repay in the future. This reciprocal exchange of gifts and favors is the lifeblood of social and even business life in China.
• Comparison to Western “Gifts”: An American might give a friend a gift “just because,” as a spontaneous show of affection. While this also happens in China, gift-giving is more strongly tied to specific occasions: visiting someone's home for the first time, business meetings, weddings, and major festivals like the Spring Festival or Mid-Autumn Festival. The 礼物 serves a clear social function. Furthermore, the act of giving and receiving is more ritualized. It's customary to present and receive a gift with two hands to show respect. The recipient will typically decline politely a few times before accepting, to show they are not greedy. It is also considered impolite to open a 礼物 in front of the giver unless they insist.

The type of 礼物 is highly dependent on the situation, the occasion, and your relationship with the recipient.

• Visiting a Home: When visiting a Chinese friend's home, it's almost mandatory to bring a small 礼物. Common choices include a nice box of fruit, a specialty snack from your hometown, tea, or alcohol. It doesn't have to be expensive; the gesture is what matters.
• Business Context: In business, giving a 礼物 can help build goodwill. These are often more formal, such as high-quality tea, local handicrafts from your home country, or company-branded items (but not cheap trinkets). The goal is to show respect and sincerity.
• Festivals and Celebrations: For events like the Spring Festival or weddings, the most common 礼物 is a 红包 (hóngbāo), a red envelope with money. For birthdays, more personalized gifts are common, similar to the West.
• Formality: The word 礼物 itself is neutral and can be used in both formal and informal situations. For more commercial or formal contexts, the word 礼品 (lǐpǐn) might be used, often seen on gift boxes or in stores.

• Example 1:
  • 这是我给你买的生日礼物。
  • Pinyin: Zhè shì wǒ gěi nǐ mǎi de shēngrì lǐwù.
  • English: This is the birthday present I bought for you.
  • Analysis: A very common and direct sentence for giving someone a gift. `给你买的 (gěi nǐ mǎi de)` means “bought for you.”
• Example 2:
  • 谢谢你的礼物，你太客气了！
  • Pinyin: Xièxiè nǐ de lǐwù, nǐ tài kèqì le!
  • English: Thank you for your gift, you're too kind!
  • Analysis: This is a standard and polite way to receive a gift. `太客气了 (tài kèqì le)` is a crucial phrase that expresses humility.
• Example 3:
  • 去朋友家吃饭，我应该带什么礼物呢？
  • Pinyin: Qù péngyǒu jiā chīfàn, wǒ yīnggāi dài shénme lǐwù ne?
  • English: I'm going to a friend's house for dinner, what gift should I bring?
  • Analysis: This sentence shows the speaker is aware of the social custom of bringing a gift when visiting someone's home. `带 (dài)` means “to bring.”
• Example 4:
  • 孩子们收到了很多新年礼物。
  • Pinyin: Háizimen shōu dào le hěnduō xīnnián lǐwù.
  • English: The children received a lot of New Year's gifts.
  • Analysis: `收到 (shōudào)` means “to receive.” New Year's gifts in China are often `红包 (hóngbāo)`.
• Example 5:
  • 这份礼物虽然不贵，但是代表了我的心意。
  • Pinyin: Zhè fèn lǐwù suīrán bù guì, dànshì dàibiǎo le wǒ de xīnyì.
  • English: Although this gift isn't expensive, it represents my sincere feelings.
  • Analysis: This emphasizes the emotional value over monetary value. `心意 (xīnyì)` is a key concept, meaning “good intentions” or “kindly feelings.” `份 (fèn)` is a common measure word for gifts.
• Example 6:
  • 他拒绝了我的礼物。
  • Pinyin: Tā jùjué le wǒ de lǐwù.
  • English: He refused my gift.
  • Analysis: `拒绝 (jùjué)` means “to refuse.” While polite refusal is common, an outright final refusal can indicate a desire to not enter into a reciprocal relationship.
• Example 7:
  • 打开看看你喜不喜欢这份礼物。
  • Pinyin: Dǎkāi kànkan nǐ xǐ bù xǐhuān zhè fèn lǐwù.
  • English: Open it and see if you like this gift.
  • Analysis: This is something a giver might say to encourage the recipient to break the custom of not opening gifts immediately. `打开 (dǎkāi)` means “to open.”
• Example 8:
  • 在中国，送礼是一种重要的社交礼节。
  • Pinyin: Zài Zhōngguó, sòng lǐ shì yī zhǒng zhòngyào de shèjiāo lǐjié.
  • English: In China, giving gifts is an important social etiquette.
  • Analysis: This sentence uses the verb form `送礼 (sòng lǐ)` - to give a gift. It explicitly connects the act to `礼节 (lǐjié)`, or etiquette.
• Example 9:
  • 我们需要为客户准备一些特别的礼物。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen xūyào wèi kèhù zhǔnbèi yīxiē tèbié de lǐwù.
  • English: We need to prepare some special gifts for the clients.
  • Analysis: Shows the use of 礼物 in a business context. `为 (wèi)` means “for” and `客户 (kèhù)` means “client.”
• Example 10:
  • 这条围巾是妈妈送给我的礼物。
  • Pinyin: Zhè tiáo wéijīn shì māmā sòng gěi wǒ de lǐwù.
  • English: This scarf is a gift from my mom.
  • Analysis: A simple sentence showing possession. `送给我的 (sòng gěi wǒ de)` means “gifted to me.” `条 (tiáo)` is the measure word for long, thin objects like a scarf (`围巾, wéijīn`).

• Taboo Gifts: Giving the wrong 礼物 can be a serious faux pas. Avoid these:
  • Clocks (钟, zhōng): The phrase “give a clock” (`送钟, sòng zhōng`) sounds identical to `送终 (sòngzhōng)`, which means “to attend a parent's funeral.” It's a major taboo.
  • Umbrellas (伞, sǎn): The character `伞 (sǎn)` sounds like `散 (sàn)`, which means “to break up” or “to fall apart.” Giving one can imply you want to end the relationship.
  • Sharp Objects (knives, scissors): These imply cutting off the relationship.
  • Green Hats: Never give a green hat to a man. The phrase “to wear a green hat” (`戴绿帽子, dài lǜmàozi`) is a slang term meaning his wife or girlfriend is cheating on him.
• The Ritual of Giving/Receiving: A common mistake for Westerners is to casually hand over a gift with one hand. Always present and receive a 礼物 with both hands to show sincerity and respect.
• Opening Gifts: Unlike in the West, where it's polite to open a gift immediately and express delight, the traditional Chinese custom is to set the gift aside and open it later in private. This shows that you value the relationship more than the gift itself. The giver may insist you open it, in which case it is okay to do so.

• 送礼 (sòng lǐ) - (Verb) To give a gift; the act of gift-giving.
• 收礼 (shōu lǐ) - (Verb) To receive a gift.
• 礼品 (lǐpǐn) - A more formal or commercial term for “gift,” often used for corporate gifts or items sold in a gift shop.
• 红包 (hóngbāo) - A red envelope containing money, a very common and important type of 礼物 for holidays and special occasions.
• 伴手礼 (bànshǒulǐ) - A small gift or souvenir brought back from a trip for friends, family, or colleagues.
• 关系 (guānxi) - The network of relationships and connections that are built and maintained through actions like giving a 礼物.
• 人情 (rénqíng) - The social obligation, favor, or “human feeling” that is exchanged. Receiving a 礼物 often incurs a debt of 人情.
• 礼节 (lǐjié) - Etiquette; the proper social rules and ceremonies, which heavily influence how a 礼物 is given and received.
• 心意 (xīnyì) - Heartfelt feelings, sincere intentions. A good 礼物 is said to represent one's 心意.