中华民族是一个崇尚礼尚往来的民族。拜访长者，我们可以带去一些营养品；给新婚夫妇包红包，一句关系亲疏里面有几十元至几千元现金......有时送礼花太多钱是犯忌的，也有时候一点儿小意思又不够，但不论接收礼物的人是谁，在什么场合下送礼，多花些时间仔细挑选礼物都是不枉费的。
一个适当的礼物，如果送的方法不对，也可能让你惹上麻烦。了解不同文化的送礼礼节是很重要的。在下面的对话里，一个初来中国的外国朋友在送礼上就碰到了点小麻烦。
A: This is the first time Ive been in China, and everything here fascinated me. But there is something I can never figure out!
B: Whats wrong? Did anything puzzle you, speak it up and see if I can help you out.
A: Good! You turn up so timely! I am just expecting some good explanation. You know the other day one of my Chinese friends was celebrating his birthday so I asked him what he would like for a birthday present. Do you know what he said? No, no! Dont give me anything. Dont be polite! can you believe it?
B: Actually, I can well believe it. Its a Chinese way of expressing his being humble and reserved. But most often the speaker doesnt really mean refusal unless he firmly insists. Chinese people dont easily accept the given things only when he has contributed to the giver or there is an intimacy. And they dont want their friends pofei which means to spend money.
A: What did he mean by refusing to accept a present from me then?
B: I dont think he was actually refusing to accept a present from you. It was just his way of being polite. He didnt mean to be rude and certainly he didnt mean to offend you.
A: Well, how do you like that? And what was I supposed to do or say in such a situation?
B: You should first understand that Chinese people are not straightforward in some situation. In such a situation I suggest you just insist, and if your friend is an elderly gentleman, you probably have to insist several times, but even then I doubt if he will ever give you a direct answer. Or you can buy him a gift directly without asking him. I think he will be satisfied with whatever you buy him. Actually what counts is your good intention.
A: So you mean buying a gift is a good choice than not, right?
B: I think so.
A: Thank you.
Notes:
1. figure out. A说中国的一切都让她感到fascinated, 感到着迷，唯独有一件事情他想不通，他说But there is something I can never figure out!
Figure out, 想明白，弄清楚。它的英文解释是这样的：find the solution to (a problem or question) or understand the meaning of
我们来看更多的例句：
e.g: It didnt take the children long to figure out the correct answer.
孩子们没有花很多时间就算出了正确的答案。
2. help you out. B很关切地询问了对方碰上什么解不开了困惑了，要对方说出来看看我能不能帮你。Speak it up and see if I can help you out.
Help sb out 是帮助解决难题(帮助摆脱困境,帮助完成,救出)也就是help sb in a particular situation of need.
e.g: He refused to accept help out of a false sense of pride.
他由于死要面子而不肯接受帮助。
3. A 紧接着说了，You turn up so timely. 太好了，你简直出现得太及时了。我正想找人给我好好解释一下呢。I am just expecting some good explanation.
4. Its a Chinese way of expressing his being humble and reserved. B听完了让A大惑不解的问题之后，劝他不要放在心上，因为这只是中国式的客气和矜持。通常情况下，一个人说不要送礼，千万别送礼并不是真的表示拒绝，除非他坚持不要，firmly insist not taking anything,
