お祝(いわ)い金(きん)

おいわいきん

noun

celebratory gift of money; congratulatory money

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(いわ)い金(きん)を渡(わた)した。

I gave a gift of money.

結婚式(けっこんしき)のお祝(いわ)い金(きん)はいくら包(つつ)めばいい？

How much should I give as a wedding gift?

祖父母(そふぼ)から入学(にゅうがく)のお祝(いわ)い金(きん)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(しゅうぎぶくろ).

Common collocations

お祝(いわ)い金(きん)を包(つつ)む — to wrap (prepare) congratulatory money
お祝(いわ)い金(きん)を渡(わた)す — to give congratulatory money
お祝(いわ)い金(きん)の相場(そうば) — the going rate for gift money

Related words

御祝儀(ごしゅうぎ) — monetary gift (formal term, especially for weddings)
祝儀袋(しゅうぎぶくろ) — decorative money envelope for celebrations
香典(こうでん) — condolence money (for funerals — the opposite context)
お年玉(としだま) — New Year's money gift (for children)

Related Words

Related: 祝儀袋(しゅうぎぶくろ) (decorative money envelope…)

Related: 香典(こうでん) (condolence money (for funerals)

Related: お年玉(としだま) (New Year's money gift)

general

Added 2026.3.27 12:30 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01

19500/19862_oiwaikin