礼物

• Pinyin: lǐ wù
• Hanzi breakdown: 礼 (lǐ) = 礻(ritual radical) + 乚; 物 (wù) = 牜(ox radical) + 勿 (phonetic)

Meaning

Gift; present. Something given to someone on a special occasion or as a gesture of kindness.

Used for both physical gifts and figurative ones. Common on birthdays, holidays, weddings, and when visiting someone's home. Gift-giving is an important part of Chinese social culture.

Examples

1. 这是我给你的生日礼物。 This is my birthday gift for you.
2. 他收到了很多礼物。 He received many gifts.
3. 我不知道买什么礼物好。 I don't know what gift to buy.

Usage Guide

Context: celebration, social, everyday

Tone: warm

Do Say

• 谢谢你的礼物！(Thank you for your gift!)
• 我想给她买一个礼物。(I want to buy her a gift.)

Don't Say

• 不要在别人面前马上打开礼物 (In Chinese culture, it is polite to wait and open a gift later in private, not immediately in front of the giver)

Origin & History

Compound of 礼 (ceremony, propriety, gift) and 物 (thing, object). 礼 originally referred to ritual propriety in Confucian philosophy.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal