見舞い

• Reading: みまい
• Romaji: mimai
• Kanji breakdown: 見 (mi) — see, look; 舞 (mai/bu) — dance, visit
• Pronunciation: /mi.ma.i/

Meaning

Visiting someone who is ill or in difficulty; expression of sympathy or concern.

A noun derived from the verb 見舞う (to visit, to inquire after someone's health). Most commonly used in お見舞い, the polite form referring to hospital or sick visits. Also appears in 見舞金 (sympathy money) and 災害見舞い (disaster condolences). Bringing a gift when visiting is customary.

Examples

1. 入院している友人のお見舞いに行った。 I went to visit my friend who was in the hospital.
2. 見舞いの品として果物を持っていった。 I brought fruit as a get-well gift.
3. 地震の被害を受けた地域にお見舞いの手紙を送った。 I sent a sympathy letter to the area affected by the earthquake.

Usage Guide

Context: hospital visits, illness, disasters

Tone: sympathetic

Origin & History

Compound of 見 (to see) and 舞い (from 舞う, to dance/visit). Originally carried the nuance of visiting to check on someone's situation, evolving into the modern meaning of a sympathy visit.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal