small gift brought when visiting someone
A modest present, often food or sweets, brought when visiting someone's home, office, or hospital. Implies a personal, thoughtful gesture rather than a formal or expensive gift.
When I went to my friend's house, I bought a cake as a small gift.
I visited the teacher who had helped me, bringing a small present.
手土産 specifically means a small gift you carry by hand when visiting someone, while 土産 can also refer to something bought during travel.
Standard kanji spelling; high frequency in news and general usage.
Mixed kana-kanji spelling; less common but still encountered.
Compound of 手 (hand) and 土産 (souvenir/gift), literally 'hand souvenir', emphasizing a small, personally carried gift.