Japanese for Gift-Giving: How to Say 'I Brought You Flowers or Wine'
Learn to present a gift in Japanese using 持ってきました (motte kimashita) and related phrases. Perfect for house visits, parties, and thank-you gestures.
By MarcusFood & cafés · Yapr Learn
When you visit someone's home in Japan, bringing a small gift is customary. This lesson teaches you how to say 'I brought you some flowers' or 'I brought you some wine' using the polite pattern 持ってきました (motte kimashita). You'll learn to name common gifts, use appropriate particles, and respond when receiving a gift. The focus is on the act of giving, not asking what to bring. By the end, you'll be able to present a gift naturally and politely in various social situations.
By the end, you can…
- say 'I brought you flowers' or 'I brought you wine' in Japanese.
- use the pattern 持ってきました (motte kimashita) with different gifts.
- respond appropriately when someone gives me a gift.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
お花を持ってきました。
I brought you some flowers.
O-hana o motte kimashita.
Use when giving flowers. お花 (o-hana) is a polite way to say 'flowers'. The particle を (o) marks the object.
ワインを持ってきました。
I brought you some wine.
Wain o motte kimashita.
Use when giving a bottle of wine. ワイン (wain) is a loanword. This phrase is neutral and polite.
お土産を持ってきました。
I brought you a souvenir.
O-miyage o motte kimashita.
お土産 (o-miyage) means 'souvenir' or 'local specialty gift'. Common when visiting someone's home.
つまらないものですが、どうぞ。
It's nothing special, but please accept it.
Tsumaranai mono desu ga, dōzo.
A humble phrase used when handing over a gift. It shows modesty. どうぞ (dōzo) means 'please' or 'here you are'.
ありがとうございます。いただきます。
Thank you. I'll accept it.
Arigatō gozaimasu. Itadakimasu.
A polite response when receiving a gift. いただきます (itadakimasu) literally means 'I will receive' and is humble.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The core pattern is [item] + を持ってきました (o motte kimashita). 持って (motte) is the te-form of 持つ (motsu, 'to hold'), and きました (kimashita) is the past polite form of 来る (kuru, 'to come'). Together, they mean 'I brought'. For example: お花を持ってきました (O-hana o motte kimashita) = 'I brought flowers.' ワインを持ってきました (Wain o motte kimashita) = 'I brought wine.' You can replace the item with any noun: ケーキ (kēki, cake), お菓子 (okashi, sweets), 本 (hon, book). The particle を (o) marks the direct object.
When to use it
Use this pattern when you arrive at someone's home, a party, or a meeting and you have a gift to present. It is polite and appropriate for most social situations. For example, when visiting a friend's house: お花を持ってきました。どうぞ。(O-hana o motte kimashita. Dōzo.) = 'I brought flowers. Please.' When you want to be extra humble, add つまらないものですが (tsumaranai mono desu ga) before handing it over. Avoid using this pattern for gifts you are sending by mail; instead, use 送りました (okurimashita, 'I sent').
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
あ、いらっしゃい。どうぞお入りください。
Oh, welcome. Please come in.A, irasshai. Dōzo o-hairi kudasai.こんにちは。お花を持ってきました。つまらないものですが、どうぞ。
Hello. I brought you some flowers. It's nothing special, but please accept them.Konnichiwa. O-hana o motte kimashita. Tsumaranai mono desu ga, dōzo.まあ、きれいなお花。ありがとうございます。いただきます。
Oh, beautiful flowers. Thank you. I'll accept them.Mā, kirei na o-hana. Arigatō gozaimasu. Itadakimasu.いいえ、どういたしまして。
Not at all, you're welcome.Iie, dō itashimashite.A little context goes a long way
In Japan, gift-giving is often accompanied by modest phrases like つまらないものですが (tsumaranai mono desu ga) to avoid seeming boastful. It's polite to present the gift with both hands. When receiving a gift, it's common to say いただきます (itadakimasu) or simply ありがとうございます (arigatō gozaimasu). Avoid giving certain items like clocks or sharp objects, which have negative connotations. Also, gifts are usually not opened in front of the giver unless you are close.
One thing to watch for
Using 持って行きました (motte ikimashita) instead of 持ってきました (motte kimashita).
Try this instead: 持って行きました means 'I took (something to somewhere)' from the perspective of the starting point. When you bring something to the listener's location, use 持ってきました. For example, when arriving at a friend's house, say お花を持ってきました (O-hana o motte kimashita), not お花を持って行きました.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you say 'I brought wine' in Japanese?
Show a sample answer
ワインを持ってきました。 (Wain o motte kimashita.)
This uses the pattern [item] + を持ってきました. ワイン (wain) is the item, を (o) marks the object, and 持ってきました (motte kimashita) means 'brought'.
2What phrase can you add before giving a gift to show modesty?
Show a sample answer
つまらないものですが (Tsumaranai mono desu ga)
This phrase means 'It's nothing special, but...' and is used to humble yourself when giving a gift. Alternatives like ほんの気持ちですが (honno kimochi desu ga, 'just a small token') are also acceptable.
3How do you politely respond when someone gives you a gift?
Show a sample answer
ありがとうございます。いただきます。 (Arigatō gozaimasu. Itadakimasu.)
This expresses gratitude and acceptance. いただきます is a humble way to say 'I will receive'. You can also simply say ありがとうございます (arigatō gozaimasu).
Use 持ってきました (motte kimashita) to say you brought a gift. Add つまらないものですが (tsumaranai mono desu ga) for modesty, and respond with ありがとうございます。いただきます。 (Arigatō gozaimasu. Itadakimasu.) when receiving one.
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