土 産(みやげ)

みやげ

noun

souvenir, gift

1. souvenir, gift

A present brought back from a trip for others, or a gift when visiting someone.

旅行(りょこう)のお土産(みやげ)を買(か)った。

I bought souvenirs from my trip.

お土産(みやげ) is the polite form

これは京都(きょうと)のお土産(みやげ)です。

This is a souvenir from Kyoto.

土産(みやげ)話(ばなし)を聞(き)かせてください。

Please tell me stories from your trip.

土産(みやげ)話(ばなし) = travel stories

職場(しょくば)の皆(みな)にお土産(みやげ)を配(くば)った。

I handed out souvenirs to everyone at work.

北海道(ほっかいどう)に行(い)ったら、有名(ゆうめい)なお菓子(かし)をお土産(みやげ)に買(か)って帰(かえ)ろうと思(おも)う。

When I go to Hokkaido, I plan to buy the famous sweets as souvenirs to bring home.

Usually used with the polite prefix お as お土産(みやげ).

Pronunciation

The kanji 土産(みやげ) is an example of 当(あ)て字(じ) (assigned characters). The characters literally mean "local product" but are read as みやげ.

Common expressions

お土産(みやげ)を買(か)う (to buy souvenirs)
お土産(みやげ)を渡(わた)す (to give a souvenir)
土産物(みやげもの) (souvenirs, gift items)
土産物屋(みやげものや) (souvenir shop)
土産(みやげ)話(ばなし) (stories from a trip)

Cultural note

Bringing back souvenirs (お土産(みやげ)) from trips is an important custom in Japan. People commonly buy local specialties for coworkers, friends, and family.

Related Words

Related: お土産(みやげ) (honorific form (more common))

Compare: 名産(めいさん) (famous product)

core

Added 2026.1.12 21:48 · Revised 2026.10.6 21:38

03500/03746_miyage