【Learn Chinese】The Chinese Flower Culture (Part 2)

If you decide to give flowers to a Chinese friend or colleague, be aware of the cultural significance of different flowers, especially on special occasions.

Never Give Chrysanthemums
In China, girls are happy to receive flowers. And yet, there is one flower that Chinese people would never give to someone as a present – a chrysanthemum. In Chinese culture, chrysanthemums are used to commemorate deceased family members, especially during the Tomb Sweeping Festival every year.
Roses, particularly red ones, are favored for their association with love and romance. Also, flowers like lilies and tulips are a good choice for expressing love and admiration.

Avoid White Flowers
In Chinese culture, color symbolism is very significant. White is the color of mourning in China, so it’s best to avoid giving white flowers, especially if you’re going to present flowers at someone’s birthday.
Since colors are important in Chinese culture, here’s some ideas on choosing flower bouquet color:
红色 hóngsè ∙ red: Red symbolizes luck, happiness, and prosperity. Red flowers, such as roses, are great choice for celebrating joyous occasions like weddings or promotions.
粉红色 fěnhóngsè ∙ pink: Pink represents romance, affection, and friendship. Pink flowers, like carnations or tulips, are suitable for expressing love and gratitude.
黄色 huángsè ∙ yellow: Yellow symbolizes warmth, joy, and positivity. Yellow flowers, such as sunflowers or daisies, are ideal for cheering up a friend or brightening someone’s day.

Consider Chinese Numerology
In Chinese culture, certain numbers are believed to be auspicious (吉利 jílì) or inauspicious (不吉利 bù jílì) based on their pronunciation. Even numbers are generally considered lucky, so it’s common to give flowers in pairs or even numbers.

Floral Vocabulary
Here is some floral vocabulary related to buying flowers and discussing them with your Chinese friends.

01. Bouquet and Flowers
The word “花” (huā) is used to describe flowers in general. If you’re looking for fresh flowers to create a bouquet, you can say: 鲜花 (xiānhuā) - fresh flowers

02. Measure Words
When discussing flowers or bouquets, you can use measure words such as:
束 (shù), measure word for a bunch or bouquet of flowers
朵 (duǒ), measure word for individual flowers or blossoms

Here are some sentences using measure words for flowers:
我买了一束玫瑰花送给我的妈妈。(wǒ mǎi le yí shù méigui huā sòng gěi wǒ de māmā) - I bought a bunch of roses to give to my mom.
我们在花市买了三朵百合花。(wǒmen zài huāshì mǎi le sān duǒ bǎihé huā) - We bought three lilies at the flower market.

03. Flower Shop or Market
Here’s what you need to search for on Baidu Maps if you want to find a floral shop or market to buy fresh flowers.
花店 (huā diàn) - flower shop
花市 (huā shì) - flower market