Learning About Japanese Envelope Culture

Learning Japanese: “Topic – envelopes for special occasions”

① お年玉(o-toshidama) = New Year money envelope

お年玉 is the word for New Year gift money. The money is usually put in a small envelope called an お年玉袋 (“o-toshidama bukuro”, o-toshidama + bag). The o-toshidama bukuro in the picture has a tiger (虎, tora) on it because 2010 was the year of the Tiger.

お年玉(o-toshidama)
● 年 (toshi) = year
● 玉 (tama) = ball

Example sentence:
ボーナス が 無かった ので お正月, 甥 に お年玉 を あげなかった.
Bōnasu ga nakatta node, o-shōgatsu, oi ni o-toshidama o agenakatta.
I didn't give my nephew an o-toshidama at New Year because I didn't get a bonus this year.

② 御見舞(o-mimai) = get-well letter / gift

The word 御見舞 (o-mimai) means a visit to someone who is ill in hospital, as well as a letter or card sent to someone who is ill. It is also commonly written お見舞い.

●御(o) = honorific prefix

見舞(mimai) = get-well letter / gift
● 見 (mi (ru)) = see
● 舞 (mai) = dance

Example sentence:
花束 を 持っ て 病院 に 友達 の お 見舞い に 行った.
Hanataba o motte, byōin ni tomodachi no o-mimai ni itta.
I went to the hospital to visit my friend with a bouquet of flowers.

③ 御新築祝(go-shinchiku iwai) = Congratulations on your new house (housewarming)

This envelope is used to give money to someone who has just moved into a new house. The phrase has three parts: the honorific prefix 御 (go), the word 新築 (shinchiku) meaning “newly built house”, and 祝 (iwai), meaning “congratulations / celebration”.

●御(go) = honorific prefix

新築(shinchiku) = newly built (house)
● 新 (shin) = new
● 築 (chiku) = build

●祝(iwai) = celebrate

Example sentence:
私 の 家 は まだ 新築 な ので, 高く 売れます.
Watashi no ie wa mada shinchiku na node, takaku uremasu.
My house is newly built, so it can be sold at a high price.

④ 御霊前(go-reizen) = Condolence money

This envelope is used to give condolence money to the family of someone who has died. The amount varies with the age of the deceased, your relationship with them and the region. The phrase is made of the honorific prefix 御 (go) and the word 霊前 (reizen), meaning “before the spirit of the departed”.

●御(go) = honorific prefix

霊前(reizen) = before the spirit of the departed
● 霊 (rei) = spirit
● 前 (zen) = before

Example sentence:
ご 霊前 は 偶数 の 金額 を 入れなけれ ば ならない.
Go-reizen wa gūsū no kingaku o irenakereba naranai.
The amount we put in the envelope (for the family of the deceased) must be an even number.

⑤ 寿(kotobuki) = Celebration envelope

The kanji on this envelope means long life, and the envelope is used for money given to a newly married couple. There is a strict rule that the envelope must be brand new and never used before.

●寿= (kotobuki) long life, congratulations

Example sentence:
三 階 の 和田 さん は, 晴れ て 寿 退社 するらしい.
San-kai wa Wada-san, harete Kotobuki Taisha rashii.
I hear that Ms Wada from the third floor will leave her job because she is getting married

See also:
Guide to Immigration Procedures on Arrival in Japan
Japanese Bowing Culture in Communication