贈り物

• Reading: おくりもの
• Romaji: okurimono
• Kanji breakdown: 贈 (zō/oku) — give, bestow; 物 (butsu/mono) — thing, object
• Pronunciation: /o.kɯ.ɾi.mo.no/

Meaning

A gift; a present. Something given to another person as a token of appreciation or celebration.

A somewhat formal word for gift, often used for presents given on special occasions like birthdays, weddings, or seasonal holidays such as お中元 and お歳暮. Compared to the loanword プレゼント, 贈り物 carries a more traditional and polite nuance.

Examples

1. 母の日に贈り物を買いました。 I bought a gift for Mother's Day.
2. 友達からすてきな贈り物をもらった。 I received a wonderful gift from a friend.
3. 結婚式の贈り物を選んでいます。 I'm picking out a gift for the wedding.

Usage Guide

Context: gift-giving, celebrations, seasonal greetings

Tone: polite

Origin & History

Compound of 贈り (okuri, the act of giving) and 物 (mono, thing). The kanji 贈 depicts bestowing or presenting something to another person.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal