The Do's and Don'ts of Red Envelopes

Did you know there's a wrong and right way to give and receive red envelopes? While you probably know about the tradition of gifting red money envelopes, you might not know the ins and outs of hong bao etiquette. Here some do's and don'ts:

DO ... Give red envelopes during Lunar New Year, birthdays, and weddings

DO ... Give crisp new bills — the crisper the better!

DON'T ... Give an amount that includes the number of 4 — that's because 4 in Chinese sounds like death

DO ... Give an amount with the number 8 since 8 sounds like fortune

DO ...  Receive the envelope with both hands

DON'T ... Open the envelope in front of the giver. Do so in private.

DO ... Thank the giver and wish them a happy new year!

DO ... Get your red envelopes at Pearl River Mart!

Learn even more Lunar New Year do's and don'ts. You can also check out our red envelope collection.