Use these polite expressions when exchanging a gift.
The idea
プレゼント is a gift and お土産 is a souvenir brought back from a trip. Use あげる when you give to someone, くれる when someone gives to you, and もらう when you receive from someone. どうぞ offers the item.
Examples
- 友達にプレゼントをあげました。I gave a friend a gift.
- 友達が私にプレゼントをくれました。A friend gave me a gift.
- 友達にお土産をもらいました。I received a souvenir from a friend.
- これ、よかったらどうぞ。Here, please have this if you like.
- 旅行のお土産です。どうぞ。This is a souvenir from my trip. Please have it.
- ありがとうございます。うれしいです。大切にします。Thank you very much. I’m delighted. I’ll treasure it.
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Watch out
The verb changes with perspective: a friend giving to you calls for くれる, even though the friend is the giver. The right wording also depends on your relationship.
Try it yourself
A gift moves from me to a friend. Choose: （あげました／くれました）
Show answer or example answer
あげました
あげました describes giving from the speaker to a friend.
A friend gives me a gift. Choose: （くれました／あげました）
Show answer or example answer
くれました
くれました describes a friend giving something to the speaker.
Choose the word for a travel souvenir: （お土産／旅行）
Show answer or example answer
お土産
お土産 is a souvenir; 旅行 means a trip.
Practice round
Answer questions, then rebuild Japanese sentences where available. We keep your score.
A gift moves from me to a friend. Choose: （あげました／くれました）
A friend gives me a gift. Choose: （くれました／あげました）
Choose the word for a travel souvenir: （お土産／旅行）
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
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Imagine giving a travel souvenir to a friend; offer it and write a reply of thanks.