お見舞い

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

Meaning

Visiting someone who is ill or injured; get-well visit. Also refers to a get-well gift.

A polite noun with the honorific prefix お. It describes the act of visiting a sick or hospitalised person, or the gift brought on such a visit. The underlying verb is 見舞う (mimau, to inquire after someone). It is an important part of Japanese social etiquette and shows concern for others.

Examples

1. 友達が入院したのでお見舞いに行きました。 My friend was hospitalized, so I went to visit them.
2. お見舞いに花を持っていきます。 I'm bringing flowers as a get-well gift.
3. 先生のお見舞いは来週にしましょう。 Let's visit our teacher next week.

Usage Guide

Context: hospital visits, illness, social etiquette

Tone: polite

Origin & History

From 見舞う (mimau, to visit/inquire after), with the honorific prefix お. The kanji 見 means to see, and 舞 originally means to dance but here carries the sense of visiting.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal