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).

SPECIAL READING:
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.

core
Added 2026.1.12 21:48 · Revised 2026.3.2 9:17
03500/03746_miyage