11 Gifts You Should Never Buy Your Thai Girlfriend

If you're thinking about a present to buy your Thai girlfriend, read this first. What you might think is a lovely gift, could actually be a bad omen.

We all know Thailand is a superstitious place. While many Thais believe in spirits and rubbing sacred trees to find lottery numbers, some take superstition to another level.

Some Thais live a life controlled by superstition, a life where one wrong move can bring with it a twist of fate that damages one's potential for love, happiness and future prosperity.

Indeed, there are many actions a person can take to bring about bad luck. So, what happens when your love interest comes along and totally rains on your karma with an inappropriate present?

There you were thinking you were being kind and romantic, when in fact you were summoning all kinds of unworldly beings to cast their bad luck over your unsuspecting partner.

Yes, your beautiful present, intended to woo the socks off of your sweetheart, could quickly turn her smile to a frown.

To avoid garnering an unwanted reaction, here’s a list of 11 gifts you should never give to your Thai girlfriend.

Please Note: This is meant to be an entertaining post and not to be taken too seriously. Some of these superstitions are very old, and for most Thais likely considered something their grandmother would have told them about. I'm sure your partner will love whatever you buy him/her.

Furthermore, you'll be pleased to know that there is an easy way to reverse the bad omen. Read on…

11 Gifts You Should Never Buy Your Thai Girlfriend

1. A Watch or Clock: นาฬิกา / naa-lí-gaa

A watch, especially one of the designer variety, may seem like a wonderful present, a sure way to bring a smile to a woman’s face. However, in Thai culture, gifting a watch might be interpreted as a negative symbol, implying that the relationship is on borrowed time, so to speak. The watch may stop ticking, at which point the relationship may come to an end!

2. A Pair of Shoes: รองเท้า / rawng  táao

A woman’s best friend, right? Not when it comes to buying a present for your girlfriend. In fact, this applies to a woman buying shoes for a man too. You see, shoes come in pairs but are easily separated.

One can easily misplace or lose a shoe and then the other is rendered useless. And for a couple who are dating but not living together, this omen could cause the relationship to break up and the couple to be easily parted, just like a lost shoe.

Moreover, shoes are associated with the ground and dirt. The act of giving shoes may symbolize “looking down” on the recipient or bringing them down in status.

3. Sharp Objects:  ของมีคม / kăwng mii kom

This is something a lot of Thais do still believe in. In Thailand, you shouldn’t pass a sharp object to someone, but instead put it down and allow them to pick it up. Certainly don’t go near your Thai girlfriend with a knife in the kitchen late at night, because a ghost may redirect your hand suddenly and plunge it into her! But that’s another belief altogether.

Just remember that giving a sharp object as a gift, like a set of knives, scissors or garden secateurs, is considered to bring the receiver danger and bad luck. Furthermore sharp objects can be seen as a symbol of cutting ties or relationships. The act of giving a sharp object may be interpreted as a wish for separation or the creation of discord, and it can be considered bad luck.

4. A Bottle of Perfume: น้ำหอม / náam-hăwm

I have made this mistake, but luckily my wife (girlfriend at the time) isn’t too superstitious. You see, the scent of perfume fades away quickly, and to give perfume to your girlfriend may cause a metaphoric reaction in the same way.

Your love will fade in the wind like the fading of the sweet scent of perfume. Ahhh, how wonderfully poetic. I do love Thais for their sense of romance!

5. A Photograph of Yourself: รูปถ่าย / rûup-tàai

While Thais love a selfie, don’t for a moment think giving your Thai girlfriend a picture of yourself is a good idea. Why? Because a photo is a memory, silly! This signifies being apart and having only a photo of you to cry herself/himself to sleep at night. Boo, hoo 🙁 .

It may also be considered egocentric. Thai cultural norms often emphasize humility and modesty, and presenting a picture of oneself might be perceived as self-centered behavior.

6. Tissues or a Handkerchief: ผ้าเช็ดหน้า / pâa-chét-nâa

Never offer your Thai girlfriend a handkerchief, or bring home a pack of Hello Kitty tissues as a present. “Why”? I hear you ask. Because a handkerchief is used for wiping tears, indicating that you or someone else will soon make your tiirak (darling) cry.

7. Black Clothes: เสื้อผ้าสีดำ / sûea-pâa sǐi dam

Black is the colour of sadness, of death, of mourning. Some Thais believe that gifting an item of black clothing means that you will attend their funeral, possibly in the near future. Spooky!

8. Presents Made of Glass: เครื่องแก้ว / krûeang gâew

Seems like a nice gift, a crystal decanter, or a set of tumblers, perhaps. But no! Because if your Thai girlfriend breaks glassware that you have given her as a present, your relationship shall also be broken by the… ummm… broken glassware relationship gods?

Avoid objects of fragility and gift something durable instead.

9. Certain Types of Flowers: ดอกไม้ / doc maǐ

Most flowers will get you the hugs and kisses you desire, but whatever you do don’t buy marigolds or carnations, as Thais associate these flowers with funerals. Avoid lotus flowers, too, because even though pretty and “homme” (smell nice), these are reserved for worshipping Buddha images and other highly-revered deities.

When choosing flowers for a romantic gesture or any other occasion, popular choices include orchids, roses and lilies. These flowers are generally well-received and do not carry negative cultural connotations

10. A Comb or Hairbrush: หวี / wǐi

The bad luck associated with giving a comb as a gift is one of my favourites. It is as if someone once sat down and decided to identify random objects to see how they could be interpreted as bad love omens.

I mean, come on, just because the teeth of a comb part as they run through your hair, surely this doesn’t mean that giving a comb as a present will cause two people to part ways, does it?
I think I’ll nip into Big C and buy a comb for the wife on the way home and put it to the test. Hehe.

11. A Brooch: เข็มกลัด / kĕm-glàt

Last on the list of gifts not to buy your Thai girlfriend is a brooch. A beautiful accessory perhaps, but to buy a gift for your girlfriend that is sharp and to be worn near the heart is to metaphorically stab her in the heart and create emotional pain.

The evil brooch brings with it arguments, bitterness and sadness, and without doubt a tear-jerking end to your relationship.

How to Reverse the Bad Luck!

If you ever make of these cultural gift faux pas and find yourself sleeping on the sofa with a moody Thai girlfriend moping in the next room, don’t despair. Like most aspects of Thai culture, there is a “mai bpen rai” (never mind) get out clause.

To reverse the bad luck and prevent a relationship meltdown, simply tell your girlfriend to pay you for the gift. Yes, it’s that simple!

By giving you a small amount of money, say 5 or 10 Baht, this turns the gift into a purchase, and therefore takes away all the associated bad luck.

How silly 🙂

——

What has been your experience with gift-giving in Thailand?

GET MY NEWSLETTER

Join thousands of others who receive my monthly roundup of content & insider tips on how to survive & thrive in Thailand.