On a first date, you want to make a good impression and bring a small gift. But you’re worried that something too expensive will pressure the other person, while something too cheap might make you seem insincere.

First, don’t bring anything too expensive. If you show up to a first date with a bag, perfume, or jewelry, the other person will feel pressured. She’ll wonder if you’re trying to win her over with money. For a first date, a small gift worth just ten or twenty yuan is enough.

Second, a small snack or drink is just fine. For example, if you pass a milk tea shop, buy two cups of milk tea and bring them along; if you pass a bakery, pick up a small cake. It’s not expensive, but it shows you’re thoughtful. If you bring them a drink in advance, they’ll feel you’re considerate.

Don’t show up empty-handed, but don’t go overboard either. Showing up empty-handed makes you seem like you don’t care. Bringing a pile of things seems too formal. A cup of milk tea or a small pastry is just right—not costly, but thoughtful. On a first date, what matters is that the two of you have a good conversation, not the gift.