CHINESE TABOOS
Like any other race the Chinese has their fair share of taboos, some of them are related to the language and culture.
| Death is a taboo which is not to be discussed in “joyous” occasions such as Chinese New Year, weddings or birthdays. | |
| 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. |
| In the company of fishermen, do not turn the fish over. It symbolises boats capsized. |
| 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. | |
| Never buy a green hat for any male married friend, as wearing a green hat has the same meaning that his wife commits adultery. |
The above info can be found at : http://www.yitseng.net/chinese%20dimensions/topics/taboo.html