Superstitions & everyday taboos

Beyond feng shui and lucky numbers (see our feng shui guide), a handful of smaller everyday superstitions and taboos are worth knowing, mostly rooted in wordplay, funeral association, or older folk belief.

Gift-giving

Clocks are traditionally avoided as gifts, since "giving a clock" sounds identical to a phrase associated with attending someone's funeral. Sharp objects like scissors or knives are also considered inauspicious gifts, symbolically "cutting" a relationship. White and black are strongly associated with funerals and mourning, making them poor choices for gift wrapping.

Chopstick etiquette

Never stick chopsticks upright in a bowl of rice — it resembles incense sticks placed for the dead, and is one of the more universally recognised taboos at the table.

Numbers

As covered in our feng shui guide, 4 is widely avoided (echoing the word for "death") while 8 is highly sought after (echoing "wealth") — this shows up in phone numbers, car plates, floor numbering and even wedding date selection.

Umbrellas and red ink

Opening an umbrella indoors is considered bad luck by some, and writing someone's name in red ink is traditionally avoided, historically associated with marking the deceased.

How seriously visitors should take this

Most younger, more cosmopolitan Hong Kong residents treat these lightly rather than as strict rules — but knowing them helps make sense of small everyday choices you might otherwise not notice, from gift-shop stock to hotel floor numbering.