🎁 “What should I bring?” — Gift-Giving in Korea (Dos & Don’ts + Phrases)
🎁 “What should I bring?” — Gift-Giving in Korea (Dos & Don’ts + Phrases)
Gifts in Korea signal sincerity and respect—done right, they open doors.
Below is a scan-friendly guide to what to bring, what to avoid, how to hand it over politely, and short phrases you can use today. Keep it small, thoughtful, and situation-fit.
한국의 선물 문화 핵심만 간단히 정리했습니다. 작고 실용적이면 성공 확률이 높아요.
📑 Table of Contents (open/close)
🎯 Learning Goals
- Choose a safe, thoughtful gift for home visits, work, or holidays.
- Hand over/receive gifts politely (timing, two-hand rule).
- Use 3–5 short phrases to sound natural today.
🧩 Core Rules (Dos & Don’ts)
| Do | Why it works | Don’t | Why to avoid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bring something small & consumable (fruit box, desserts, tea, quality coffee, local specialty). | Useful, shareable, no burden to store. | Oversized or luxury on first visit. | Creates pressure to reciprocate. |
| Neat wrapping + two hands to give/receive. | Signals respect and care. | Hand with one hand or across the room. | Feels careless/casual in formal settings. |
| Write a short note (EN/KR both fine). | Makes intent explicit: gratitude, congrats. | Unlabeled cash/gift cards. | Looks transactional; always use an envelope (봉투). |
| Health sets (honey, nuts, ginseng drinks) for elders. | Signals care for well-being. | Sharp objects (knives/scissors) as gifts. | Symbolize “cutting” the relationship. |
| Even if refused once, offer again gently. | Modesty ritual: a light refusal is common. | Insist repeatedly if they still decline. | Respect boundaries; suggest sharing later. |
| Avoid “4-piece” motif and overly black/red wrapping for happy occasions. | “4 (사)” echoes “death (사)” in Sino-Korean; dark tones feel solemn. | Shoes for a partner early on. | Old saying: they might “run away.” Take it light but many still avoid. |
🧺 Situational Picks
- Home visit: seasonal fruit box, cake, artisanal bread, flowers (remove price tag).
- Workplace: shareable snacks, coffee beans/drip bags, premium tea set; present to the team.
- Hosts/teachers: hand cream set, candle, local specialty + short note.
- Holidays (Seollal/Chuseok): department-store sets (spam/olive oil/tea/health tonics) are standard.
- Weddings/funerals: money in an appropriate envelope; amounts vary by closeness. Ask a local friend if unsure.
💬 Phrases (Hangul · RR · EN)
| Korean | RR | English |
|---|---|---|
| 작은 선물 가져왔어요. 맛있게 드세요. | jageun seonmul gajyeowasseoyo. masitge deuseyo. | I brought a little gift. Please enjoy. |
| 초대해 주셔서 감사합니다. | chodaehae jusyeoseo gamsahamnida. | Thank you for inviting me. |
| (상대가 사양할 때) 괜찮으시면 받아주세요. | (gwaenchaneusimyeon) badajuseyo. | If it’s okay, please accept it. |
| 같이 나눠 먹으면 더 좋을 것 같아요. | gachi nanwo meogeumyeon deo joeul geot gat-ayo. | I thought it’d be nice to share. |
| 정말 감사해요. 잘 쓰겠습니다/맛있게 먹을게요. | jeongmal gamsahaeyo. jal sseugetseumnida/masitge meogeulgeyo. | Thank you so much. I’ll make good use of it / enjoy it. |
❌ Common Mistakes
- Going big on the first meeting. Start small and thoughtful. 처음엔 작고 실용적이 안전합니다.
- One-handed passing. Always use two hands (and a slight bow if formal). 두 손 + 고개 살짝.
- No envelope for cash/gift cards. Put it in a neat 봉투 with a line of thanks.
- Insisting after a clear “no.” Offer twice at most; then respect the decline. 두 번 정도 권유 후 멈춤.
- Literal translations on the card. Keep it short & warm: “Thank you for having me.” 짧고 진심이 더 좋아요.
🌏 Did You Know?
Many apartment elevators in Korea label the 4th floor as “F”. While beliefs vary by person, avoiding “4-sets” in celebratory gifts remains common—so aim for 2, 3, or 5 items.
‘4(사)’와 ‘죽음(사)’의 발음이 같아 피하는 경우가 있어요. 기쁜 자리의 포장/구성은 밝은 색, 2·3·5개 구성이 무난합니다.
🎓 Practice Gift Etiquette Live
Want to role-play a home visit or office handover? I’ll help you choose a safe gift and polish your lines.
Tiny habit (2 minutes): write one thank-you line + your gift choice for your next visit. Post it in the comments to keep yourself accountable.
다음 만남을 위한 감사 한 문장 + 선물 1개를 적어 보세요. 작은 실천이 습관을 만듭니다.
