Formal — to stranger
Cultural · Gift
お世話になっております。ほんの気持ちですが、どうぞお受け取りください。 — Thank you for your continued support. Please accept this small token of our appreciation. (Cultural · Gift, Formal — to stranger, JLPT N3)
You
お世話になっております。ほんの気持ちですが、どうぞお受け取りください。
おせわになっております。ほんのきもちですが、どうぞおうけとりください。
Thank you for your continued support. Please accept this small token of our appreciation.
Romaji: O-sewa ni natte orimasu. Honno kimochi desu ga, dōzo o-uketori kudasai. / Reply Romaji: Mā, o-kamai naku. Arigatō gozaimasu.
Reply
まあ、お構いなく。ありがとうございます。
まあ、おかまいなく。ありがとうございます。
Oh, you really shouldn't have. Thank you so much.
Gesture & etiquette
Present the wrapped gift with both hands and a bow of about 15-20 degrees. The gift should be in a department store bag (depato bag) to signal quality. Do not watch expectantly while they open it — in Japan, gifts are often opened privately after the visit.
Used when presenting o-seibo (year-end gift) or o-chugen (mid-year gift) — Japan's two major gift-giving seasons. Opening with 'お世話になっております' acknowledges the ongoing relationship. Never give gifts of a set of 4 (unlucky number) or perishables without confirming allergies.