お返(かえ)し

おかえし
noun
return gift; reciprocal gift
culturesociety
1. a return gift; a reciprocal gift given in response to receiving a gift
a gift given to someone who previously gave you a gift, as part of Japanese gift-giving etiquette
バレンタインのお返(かえ)しを渡(わた)した。
I gave a return gift for Valentine's Day.
結婚式(けっこんしき)の祝儀(しゅうぎ)へのお返(かえ)しを準備(じゅんび)している。
I'm preparing return gifts for the wedding gift money.
お返(かえ)しは頂(いただ)いた金額(きんがく)の半分(はんぶん)ぐらいが目安(めやす)です。
A return gift should be about half the value of what you received.

Etymology

お (honorific prefix) + 返(かえ)し (returning) → returning (a favor/gift)

Watch out

お返(かえ)し has everyday uses beyond gifts. At a shop register, ～円(えん)のお返(かえ)しです means "your change is ~ yen." In a quarrel or a game, お返(かえ)しだ means "that's payback."

TYPES (occasions):

Cultural note

  • 半返(はんがえ)し: a return gift worth about half the original (the usual guideline)
  • 三分(さんぶん)の一(いち)返(がえ)し: a return gift worth about one third

Related words

Related Words

Related: 手土産(てみやげ) (host gift)
Related: ご祝儀(しゅうぎ) (monetary gift)
Related: 内祝(うちいわ)い (celebratory return gift)
Related: 香典返(こうでんがえ)し (funeral return gift)
Compare: 倍返(ばいがえ)し (returning double, paying back twofold)
Compare: 返礼品(へんれいひん) (return gift)
Related: 引(ひ)き出物(でもの) (wedding favor)
general
Added 2026.1.26 13:25 · Revised 2026.10.13 3:41
08000/08354_okaeshi