1.
celebratory gift of money; congratulatory money
Money given as a gift to celebrate occasions such as weddings, births, entering school, coming-of-age ceremonies, or other milestones.
お祝い金を渡した。
I gave a gift of money.
結婚式のお祝い金はいくら包めばいい？
How much should I give as a wedding gift?
祖父母から入学のお祝い金をもらって、とてもうれしかった。
I was very happy to receive congratulatory money from my grandparents for starting school.
Giving money as a celebratory gift is deeply embedded in Japanese culture. The amount varies by occasion and the giver's relationship to the recipient. Money is placed in special decorative envelopes called 祝儀袋.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- お祝い金を包む — to wrap (prepare) congratulatory money
- お祝い金を渡す — to give congratulatory money
- お祝い金の相場 — the going rate for gift money
RELATED TERMS:
- 御祝儀 — monetary gift (formal term, especially for weddings)
- 祝儀袋 — decorative money envelope for celebrations
- 香典 — condolence money (for funerals — the opposite context)
- お年玉 — New Year's money gift (for children)