内うち祝いわい

noun

gift for close relatives or friends; return gift for a family celebration

A gift given to close relatives or friends to share joy on a family occasion such as a wedding, birth, or other milestone. In modern usage, it often refers to a return gift given to those who gave a celebratory gift.

• 結けっ婚こんの内うち祝いわいとして、親しん戚せきにカタログギフトを贈おくった。

  As a wedding return gift, I sent a catalog gift to my relatives.

• 出しゅっ産さんの内うち祝いわいに、職しょく場ばの人ひとたちへお菓か子しを配くばった。

  For the birth celebration gift, I handed out sweets to my colleagues.

noun

family celebration; private celebration

A celebration held privately among family and close friends, as opposed to a large public event. This sense is less common in modern Japanese, where 内祝い more often refers to the gift itself.

• 子こどもの誕たん生じょう日びは、内うち祝いわいとして家か族ぞくだけでお祝いわいした。

  We celebrated the child's birthday as a private family celebration.