Avoid sets of four, knives, and clocks

Don't give gifts in sets of four, and skip knives, scissors, or clocks — all carry death or "cutting off the relationship" associations.

Korea GiftsstrictUpdated September 2, 2026

Stick to gift quantities other than four — three, five, or seven (seven is traditionally considered lucky) all read as neutral or positive.

Skip knives, scissors, or letter openers as gifts even if they’re a nice set — the “cutting off the relationship” association holds even when it’s clearly not intended that way. Clocks and watches carry a similar weight, tied to mortality and time running out, so avoid those too.

This matters most with elders and business contacts — close friends your own age are more relaxed about it, but it’s safest to default to avoiding all three when you’re unsure.
If you’re unsure whether a gift set comes in fours, check before buying — packaged goods (towels, glasses, mugs) sometimes default to sets of four in non-Korean markets.

Why it matters

The number 4 (사, sa) is a homophone for the Chinese character for death, so gifting in fours (four items, four of something) reads as a bad omen the same way 13 does in the West — some Korean buildings even skip a labeled 4th floor. Knives and scissors symbolize severing a relationship, and clocks are linked to counting down someone's remaining time, tied to funeral and mortality associations. None of these are hard rules for casual friends, but they're the kind of thing an older relative or business contact will notice.

Avoid sets of four, knives, and clocks

Why it matters

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