はなむけ

は

な

む

け

Meanings

usually written using kana alone

A gift given to someone who is leaving on a journey or moving away. The word originates from the phrase 馬の鼻向け (uma no hanamuke), referring to turning a horse's nose toward its destination as a send-off gesture.

友とも達だちの引ひっ越こしに、はなむけの品しなを贈おくった。
I gave a farewell gift to my friend who was moving away.
退たい職しょくする先せん輩ぱいにはなむけの言こと葉ばをかけた。
I offered parting words to my senior colleague who was retiring.

See all 8 example sentences ›

Kanji

餞farewell gift
贐going away present, parting gift

Related words

餞せん別べつ
餞別 (せんべつ) is a more formal term for a farewell gift, often money given at a formal send-off. はなむけ is a warmer, more personal expression.

Written forms

はなむけUsage68%
Usually written in kana; the kanji forms 餞 and 贐 are rare and mainly encountered in literary or formal contexts.
餞Usage27%
- はなむけ
  Rare kanji form for はなむけ; also read せん in some contexts.
- せん
贐はなむけUsage3%
Very rare variant kanji for はなむけ.
ハナムケUsage3%
せん

Etymology

Derived from 馬の鼻向け (uma no hanamuke), literally 'turning a horse's nose', referring to the act of pointing a departing horse toward its destination as a send-off. The kanji 餞 and 贐 are Chinese loan characters associated with parting gifts.