Question
I am planning to visit a friend’s house in Japan and want to know what I should bring as a gift. How do I ask, “What should I bring as a gift?” in Japanese?
Japango Editor Team
お土産（みやげ）は何（なに）を持（も）って行（い）けばいいですか。
Omiyage wa nani o motte ikeba ii desuka?
What should I bring as a gift?
When visiting someone’s home in Japan, it’s customary to bring a small gift called “omiyage”. You can use the above phrase to politely inquire what would be appropriate to bring. Omiyage means “souvenir” or “gift”; nani means “what”; and motte ikeba ii desuka is an expression asking “should/could I bring?”.
This phrase can be useful in a variety of social situations when you’re unsure what gift would be appropriate. Adjust the word omiyage for different contexts, like “purezento” (present) for a birthday, and the rest of the structure remains the same.
