Does anyone know about suriname's culture?

May anyone know that why in chinese culture..giving shoes as a gift is not good?

• My friend's birthday is around the corner. And I found out that his shoes is broken but he still wear it to college everyday..i wish to buy him a shoes as a gift. But they said that in chinese culture..giving shoes as a gift is not a good sign..anyone know why?And what I can do if I still want to give him a shoes as his birthday gift?

• Answer:

  it's because the the word "shoes" in chinese is "鞋" the pronunciation of the word "鞋" is similar to the chinese interjection "唉" which we use it when we feel sad or worry... so if u give shoes to a friend, people will think that u bring some trouble to ur friend. but nowadays, not very much people care about it... as im a chinese, i think that's OK so i think u give shoes to ur freind as birthday gift, that's OK if ur friend isn't a very superstitious P.S.and if u don't ask this question, i almost forget chinese don't like poeple give shoes as a gift XD