お中ちゅう元げん

noun

mid-year gift; summer gift

A customary gift given in mid-July (around the Obon period) to express gratitude, typically to relatives, superiors, or business contacts. Often contrasted with お歳暮 (year-end gift).

See also: 中元

• 毎まい年とし、お世せ話わになっている上じょう司しにお中ちゅう元げんを贈おくっています。

  Every year I send a mid-year gift to my boss, who has been very helpful.

• デパートのお中ちゅう元げんコーナーで、のりとビールの詰つめ合あわせを選えらんだ。

  At the department store's summer gift section, I chose a set of nori and beer.